BANNOCKBURN, IL — Theoretical physicist, best-selling author and futurist Dr. Michio Kaku has been selected through a vote of IPC members to keynote the trade group's biggest event next spring.

Referred to as a “rock star” by many in the scientific community, Kaku has been selected as the opening keynote speaker for IPC Apex Expo trade show. He is an internationally recognized authority on Einstein’s unified field theory, and is known for using science to predict trends affecting business, commerce and finance.

Kaku’s keynote will present a vision of life in the year 2100 culled from ideas of 300 of the country’s most influential scientists. He will explore revolutionary advancements in medicine, energy production, artificial intelligence and aeronautics that will forever change our way of life — including innovations like Internet-enabled contact lenses, cars that will drive (or even fly) themselves and brain sensors that will let us move objects using only the power of our minds.

Kaku is one of the world’s most widely recognized figures in science. His television documentaries for the BBC, and Science and Discovery channels, as well as his radio shows, such as Science Fantastic, and his New York Times best-selling books like Physics of the Future have popularized science and roused the interest of millions of followers around the globe. A prolific writer, Kaku has also authored articles for scores of publications ranging from major-market newspapers to popular business, computer and science magazines.

Members of the electronics manufacturing industry chose Kaku to be the opening keynote speaker through an online voting process in June 2012. In a statement to IPC members, Kaku said, “Electronics has completely revolutionized our world in the last 50 years. Your industry is a critical building-block for future advancement. It is my great pleasure to share my research and predictions with you.”

Kaku’s opening keynote address on Feb. 19 is free to all registered show attendees.