ieee foundation established this year The epic Dr. Swarn S. at IEEE. Kalsi Community of Projects The fund to support the projects is “designed to inspire multidisciplinary teams of engineering students to collaborate and engineer solutions to meet local community needs.”
EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) at IEEE. The initiative provides students the opportunity to engage in service learning and actively collaborate with engineering professionals and community organizations to develop solutions that address local challenges.
The new fund was created by the family of an IEEE Life Fellow Swarn S. Kalsi To honor his legacy as a pioneer of high-temperature superconducting magnet technology. Kalsi died on 2 March at the age of 85.
He was a dedicated IEEE volunteer, passionate about the importance of hands-on education and supporting emerging engineers.
“Dad believed that education, especially an engineering degree, had the power to change lives,” says Kalsi’s son Sunny. “He was a lifelong teacher who cared deeply about those around him and wanted to share his knowledge.”
To carry on his legacy, Kalsi’s family worked with the IEEE Foundation to establish a new memorial fund.
“Dad wanted every person to reach their full potential, and he often said ‘Engineers build the future,'” says Kalsi’s daughter, Kiran. “Thus, the EPICS at IEEE event seemed a natural way to honor them while supporting the next generation of engineers.”
An expert on superconducting magnet technology
Kalsi grew up in Kanpur, India, and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1962 Indian Institute of Technology KharagpurHe continued his education by earning a master’s degree in EE in 1963 Banaras Hindu UniversityIn Varanasi, India. He then moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a doctoral degree in EE Imperial College LondonHis Ph.D. After earning. In 1970, he moved to the United States with his wife, Kuldeep.
During his career spanning 50 years, Kalsi has worked with leading companies in the industry. AMSC (American Superconductor), general ElectricAnd Northrop GrummanHis work focused on the design and fabrication of superconducting magnets for motors and generators, power cables, and fault current limiters.
At AMSC, he worked to enhance the company’s development process for power devices using high temperature superconducting (HTS) technology.
“One of his major contributions was HTS rotating machines, including motors, generators, and synchronous condensers,” says the IEEE Life Fellow. Alex J. melozemoffWho worked with Kalsi in AMSC. “He contributed to the design of the industry-leading 36.5-MW ship propulsion motor us Navy and the development and successful testing of the HTS Dynamic Synchronous Condenser.
“The creation of the new EPICS in the IEEE Dr. Swarn S. Kalsi Community of Projects Fund is a beautiful example of how an IEEE member’s impact can extend beyond their lifetime.” – Karen Gallucci
“I consider him one of the most insightful and widely experienced engineers in the HTS power engineering field.”
Kalsi was given more grant than 30 US patents,
After retiring in 2007, he founded Kalsey Green Power Systems, a consulting company in Princeton, NJ. As a consultant, he helped government and private clients design large superconducting generators and motors for wind turbines, ship propulsion, transformers, fault current limiters, and magnet systems.
Kalsi has written a book Applications of High Temperature Superconductors for Electric Power EquipmentReleased in 2011.
He was active with IEEE Princeton Central Jersey Section for many years and was promoted to IEEE Fellow in 2013 for “Development and application of high-temperature superconductor electric power equipment”.
keeping the legacy alive
since ieee educational activities EPICS launched at IEEE in 2009, more than 12,000 students from 39 countries have participated in service-learning projects. EPICS provides funding up to US$10,000, along with resources and mentorship, to student teams for projects focused on four key areas of community improvement: education and outreach; Environment; access and capabilities; and human services.
Accordingly, the Kalsi family made the largest pledge in the history of the EPICS program. Karen GallucciExecutive Director of the IEEE Foundation.
“The IEEE Foundation could not be more proud or excited to establish the new EPICS in the IEEE Dr. Swarn S. Kalsi Community of Projects Fund,” says Marco Delimar, the Foundation’s 2025 President. “It will both recognize Kalsi’s outstanding and indelible contributions to our industry during his renowned career, as well as inspire and support ongoing innovation by future generations.”
jamie moshThe Managing Director of IEEE Educational Activities is also grateful and says, “Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Kalsi family, we can provide long-term support for service-learning projects for years to come, further empowering the next generation of engineers to advance technology for humanity.”
Kalsi’s former colleagues and disciples have contributed to the fund. james storyis a senior scientist of Robinson Research Institute For example, Lower Hutt, in New Zealand, supports the fund. He worked with Kalsi on a superconducting project.
“Swarn was a most valued collaborator on the team, informing our superconducting motor research programs for more than a decade,” Storey says. “I knew him to be a very kind, generous and hospitable person—in addition to being incredibly knowledgeable. It was a true privilege to be able to learn from him.”
set up a memorial fund
The IEEE Foundation partners with IEEE groups and families of IEEE members to create a memorial fund, which pays tribute to family members, friends, colleagues, teachers, professors, students, and others. This type of tribute honors someone while supporting future generations of engineers and celebrating innovation.
“The creation of the new EPICS in the IEEE Dr. Swarn S. Kalsi Community of Projects Fund is a beautiful example of how an IEEE member’s impact can extend beyond their lifetime,” says Gallucci. “In this case, Kalsi’s family remembers and supports his deep connection to IEEE and the value of education while continuing his legacy through their professional home.
“Through the global, practical, educational opportunities this program offers to help advance technology for the benefit of humanity, EPICS at IEEE was a perfect match for Kalsi’s passion, and we are very grateful to the Kalsi family for their generous and enduring gift.”
For more information about the fund or to donate to the initiative, visit Page on the IEEE Foundation websiteTo learn more about the Memorial and Tribute Fund, visit here this page,
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