Do we need to educate and train EM Engineers And Scientists?

Summary form only given. Electromagnetic system modeling and simulation can be performed using a variety of analytical, numerical and computational methods, such as IE/MoM, FDTD, FEM, GTD/UTD, just to name a few. In addition, there are a plethora of personal and commercial full-wave simulators, based on such methods, which can be used to perform the modeling and simulations. One of the first questions that we need pose, answer and justify is: Do we need to educate and train EM engineers and scientists with BS, MS and PhD degrees, especially when the CEM resources, hardware and software, are so advanced? Antenna elements have basic radiation characteristics when they radiate in an infinite medium or when placed on basic structures, such as infinite ground planes. In practice, however, these elements are mounted on complex structural environments, such as finite ground planes, truncated cones and cylinders, mobile wireless devices, electronic packages, ground based vehicles, and airborne platforms (such as airplanes, helicopters, missiles, etc.). The integration of materials to the design often increases the complexity, although may improve the performance. Once the antenna system has been modeled and simulated, how do we know or decide that the data obtained are representative of the system that we have modeled? One way to answer the question is to perform measurements, which are usually expensive, time consuming and may require specialized facility and instrumentation. Besides, we use the computational methods and full-wave electromagnetics solvers for their versatility and to avoid costly and time consuming experiments. One of the alternatives is to attempt to shed some physical interpretation on the data obtained through simulations, which most often requires understanding of the fundamental and advanced principles of electromagnetics. While GTD/UTD shed more physical inside into the modeling, they are limited by the types of structures, constituent parameters, an- - d geometrical complexity. Full-wave simulators, such as those based on IE/MoM, FDTD and FEM, are more versatile for simulations and animations, although are usually limited by physical insight, interpretation and electrical size. In this presentation we will address and answer some of the posed questions as to why we need to educate and train EM engineers and scientists. Basic antenna systems will be modeled and simulated when mounted on complex structures, and we will attempt to provide, based on basic electromagnetic and physics principles, some physical insight and interpretation of the altered radiations characteristics, such as resonant frequency, impedance, and amplitude pattern, as compared to when such radiators are placed on basic structures.