Recently, a 35-kV/800-kVA degradable-epoxy-cast dry transformer has successfully passed the factory test, type test, and field handover test and has been put into trial operation at Ganchen Station #2 of the Laibin Power Supply Bureau of Guangxi Power Grid in September 2024.

Every two years the IEEE DEIS selects an individual in recognition of sustained leadership, support, and contributions to the advancement of the field of electrical insulation and dielectrics. This award, which was first given in 1992, is named in honor of the late Eric O. Forster for his distinguished service on behalf of DEIS. The award is restricted to DEIS members. It is made every two years, generally at the Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, although the recipient has the prerogative of requesting that the award be made at an alternative DEIS-sponsored event. The award comes with an honorarium of $5,000.

As my tenure as editor in chief comes to a close, I am reflecting on the past year. It has been a learning experience. First, I quickly became educated on the steps required to publish a magazine, which brings me to my first set of thank YOUS. Thank you to Christine Horger and Ron Keller for your understanding and help as I learned the process.

In recent years, to achieve a sustainable society worldwide, all industrial products are expected to incorporate effective measures to combat climate change. The development of xEVs that do not emit NOx (nitrogen oxides), PM (particulate matter), or CO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> while driving is also underway in the field of automobiles. Here, “xEV” refers to all categories of electric vehicles, including those with modifiers such as battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell. Under the policies of various governments, there is a rapidly growing trend to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles by the 2030s.

The 43rd Electrical Insulation Conference (EIC) will take place in South Padre Island, Texas, USA, from June 8 to 12, 2025. Known for its lovely spring and summer seasons, South Padre Island offers pleasant temperatures and stunning landscapes, providing a perfect backdrop for our conference. Additionally, our venue hotel offers direct access to a plethora of attractions, ensuring that your stay will be both productive and enjoyable. We look forward to welcoming you to an engaging and enriching experience at EIC 2025. Please mark your calendars and prepare for a conference filled with valuable insights and networking opportunities.

I am excited to introduce this issue of the magazine. It features an article from Yoshimichi Ohki, the most recent recipient of the Dakin award. In this article, “Attracted to Dielectric Materials Research,” Yoshimichi “Yoshi” Ohki reviews his 50+ years of research work. His goal is to help new researchers learn how to gain the most from their research through techniques he has applied. His motto is “We would use all the available research facilities.”

Chief to ensure relevance of a paper topic before submission of a full paper. Together with the abstract, the authors shall include a cover letter that describes why their proposed paper is of interest to the general DEIS membership (200 words), why their proposed paper is timely and important (100 words) and how they would characterize their paper, i.e. as a review or tutorial. All technical articles received by the Editor-in-Chief are reviewed for content. Peer review is vital to the quality of published content. Per IEEE policy, your submitted article will first be evaluated by the EIM Editorial Board and then by at least two independent reviewers who are experts in your article's subject matter. Peer review ensures the integrity of science by excluding invalid or low-quality research. Reviewer feedback will contribute to the editor's decision on whether to accept or reject your article for publication. During the peer-review process, editors and reviewers are looking for the following: Scope: Is the article appropriate for this publication? Novelty: Is this original material distinct from previous publications? Validity: Is the study well designed and executed? Data: Are the data reported, analyzed, and interpreted correctly? Clarity: Are the ideas expressed clearly, concisely, and logically? Compliance: Are all ethical and journal requirements met? Advancement: Is this a significant contribution to the field?

The Society's interests lie in materials, measurements, numerical modelling, components, applications, and systems pertinent to dielectrics and electrical insulation. These include solids, liquids, and gases; small-scale systems such as nano-dielectrics and bio-dielectrics; high-voltage and high-field phenomena; and large-scale systems such as high-power insulation applied to electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. The Society supports the basic science of dielectrics and electrical insulation through practical applications and the development of relevant standards.