Invitation to Submit Proposals for Short Courses: Proposals are being solicited for full-day and half-day Short Courses to be presented at IMS 2011 on Sunday, June 5, or Monday, June 6. IMS short courses are intended to offer opportunities for MTT-S members to acquire introductory to expert-level knowledge on, and insight into, Focus topics of broad interest from excellent instructors, and they are expected to provide significant value to attendees. Short courses are solicited from all technical areas within MTT-S, including new microwave subject areas.

Please note the following distinguishing characteristics of short courses:

• Short courses are coherent in-depth presentations of a single topic, ranging from introductory to expert level, addressed to MTT-S members not yet specialists in that topic.
• Short courses are taught by one or two well-coordinated instructors.
• Learning objectives, prerequisites, and a detailed course outline are pre-announced.
• Courses that combine a morning lecture with an associated afternoon interactive, hands-on laboratory have been very popular and are encouraged.
• A nominal honorarium will be provided to short course presenters.
• Instructors need not evaluate students.

Short Course Proposal Submission Instructions: All proposals for short courses should include the detailed information listed below and should be submitted to shortcourses@ims2011.org before Friday, September 17, 2010. Specific questions can be submitted via email to the Short Courses Chair at shortcourses@ims2011.org. Final selection will be made by the Steering Committee based on the quality of the proposal and the perceived benefit to attendees. IMS 2011 plans to have only a small number (three to six) of these courses. Please include the following in the proposal:

1. Topic, theme, and syllabus for the course being proposed.
2. A brief paragraph defining learning objectives/outcomes for the course.
3. Method of presentation.
4. A description of the material to be distributed to attendees.
5. Instructors' biographies, competence relevant to the course material, and contact information.

Notification of acceptance of proposals will be sent to instructors via email by October 25, 2010. Instructors must submit any Short Course Notes intended for distribution to attendees by March 18, 2011.