AUSTIN, TEXAS -- It's not easy to think of Austin without the technology sector, but such a time did exist.

Pi squared (or Pi^2) is the local joint chapter of the IEEE -- the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers -- made up of professionals interested in these four core disciplines:  Power & Energy, Power Electronics, Industry Applications, and Industrial Electronics.  

The group celebrates its 55th anniversary this year and will be recognized by the IEEE governing body as the first chapter for Industry Applications.

Engineers held a workshop on the important topic of electrical grounding and, in the process, demonstrated an exothermic welding technique.

In the above video, our Chief Meteorologist Burton Fitzsimmons tells us more about this group that plays no small part in powering our lives.