Speaker

May 27, 2014: Travis Williams: Radioscouting: What's in it for me?

This talk will describe three critical roles that we as radio operators can play in the Boy Scout program: tactical communicators, trainers, and service sponsors. In return for a small investment from the radio community, Scouting can then enable us to train, recruit, and inspire the next generation of ham operators. The talk will present examples of each of these activities used by the KT5BSA club to expose youth to our hobby and provide service to the radio and emergency preparedness communities.

Travis is a 30-year veteran of the Boy Scouts of America and has been a licensed ham operator since 1997, mostly because of the influence of his Scouting role models. Today, Travis uses his ARRL-affiliated club station, KT5BSA, as a program feature with his troop and venturing crew based in Pasadena, CA. Travis has been very successful using the radio program to bring to scouts advancement, learning, public service, and emergency preparedness opportunities that are not otherwise available within the BSA.

When he's not on the air, Travis is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering at USC. He received his PhD from Stanford University in 2005 and was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology before coming to USC in 2007. Travis has received numerous honors and awards for his work, including the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, the NSF CAREER Award, the Stanford Centennial Teaching Award, and the Caltech ASCIT Teaching Award.