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27 October 2016
The 100th Annual Meeting of The Optical Society and FiO Celebrated with 2,300 Attendees
27 October 2016
The 100th Annual Meeting of The Optical Society and FiO Celebrated with 2,300 Attendees
OSA Century of Optics exhibit relocated to Rochester Museum and Science Center
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – For 100 years, the optical science community has been gathering to discuss the latest advances in all areas of the field of optics and photonics at The Optical Society’s Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO), co-located with Laser Science, the 32Nd Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Laser Science (DLS). The meeting has grown from its start as a local conference focused on topics such as photography and vision to new scientific thrusts of today such as developments in nonlinear spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography. The annual program was held 17-20 October 2016 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center with an attendance of 2,300.
“This meeting was 100 years in the making,” said Elizabeth Rogan, CEO, The Optical Society. “From our centennial celebrations to the technical programming, FiO engaged scientists, engineers, business leaders and students from around the world to share the latest advances in optics. This premier conference program reflects the best in class of volunteers that developed the program.”
In addition to the acclaimed research, attendees benefited from a wealth of special events and programming. To name a few, technical division chairs gave an overview of the hot topics in optics today in virtually every sub-field of optics, seven special symposia were held on topics ranging from integrated photonic manufacturing to quantum photonics, and women leaders in the field came together for a day-long program on current issues and trends facing women and minorities in science.
Centennial Programming
OSA created a Century of Optics exhibit that showcases 100 iconic, forward-thinking moments in the science of light and The Optical Society’s history. The anchor and traveling exhibits were displayed at more than 25 global optics conferences and OSA meetings throughout 2016. At the conclusion of FiO, the anchor exhibit moved to the Rochester Museum and Science Center where it will be displayed in the lobby of the Strasenburgh Planetarium through 30 April 2017. The exhibit also is on permanent display at 16 university partners in Australia, China, Colombia, Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.
In addition to sharing a century of optics in pictures, OSA’s Centennial celebrations connected its members through increased involvement and recognition. The “Write the Future” contest produced 39 submissions of short stories from 14 countries. Honorable mentions were awarded at FiO to Edward Chen, a PhD candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States; Sourabh Kumar, a student at University of Calgary, Canada; and Nicolas Wong a post-graduate researcher at University of Southampton, United Kingdom. The winning submission called “Abby’s Morning” was written by Kristian Buchwald, Vice President at Ibsen Photonics, Denmark. He generously donated the $500 prize to the OSA Foundation. All four submissions will be published in the November OPN Magazine.
Theoretical physicist and futurist Dr. Michio Kaku, City College of New York (CUNY), NY, USA, hosted the latest in The Optical Society’s (OSA) Light the Future series. Kaku spoke on the next 100 years in optics, gravitational waves, optical telescopes and using optics to map the brain. Joining Kaku on the stage were seven Nobel Laureates – Nicolaas Bloembergen, Robert F. Curl, Roy Glauber, John L. Hall, W.E. Moerner, William D. Phillips and David J. Wineland. Video will be available at osa.org/lightthefuture.
Hot Topics in Optics and Laser Science
This year’s exhibit floor and conference featured multinational corporations and local Rochester-based companies, diverse programming, interactive workshops and unique technical sessions. Attendees could choose from more than 800 technical presentations this year, on topics as diverse as digital holography and optical microfabrication to optical signal processing and metamaterials. FiO research generated plenty of buzz including coverage in the CBS, NPR, Yahoo! News and GizMag, among others.
Researchers from around the world presented industry leading technical peer-reviewed papers on topics including:
Researchers Demonstrate Hyperspectral Imaging for Multiphoton Microscopy — Researchers at Cornell University have discovered an innovation to extend the current capabilities of this technology
New Laser Provides Ultra-Precise Tool for Scientists Probing the Secrets of the Universe — Researchers have developed a new laser that makes it possible to measure electron transition energies in small atoms and molecules with unprecedented precision. The instrument will help scientists test one of the bedrock theories of modern physics to new limits, and may help resolve an unexplained discrepancy in measurements of the size of the proton.
A Swift, Economical Technique for Imaging Multicore Fibers in Real Time — Multicore fibers (MCF) have attracted much attention in the fields of telecommunications, fiber lasers and medical endoscopes. MCF-based optical imaging techniques, which use a fiber bundle (each fiber acting like a discrete pixel to form the final pixelated image), are useful for investigating inside the human body in a minimally invasive way.
FiO/LS 2016 provided attendees from around the world with the opportunity to network, present, learn, and connect. The 2017 conference will be held 17-21 September at the Washington Hilton, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
About FiO/LS
Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2016 is The Optical Society’s (OSA) 100th Annual Meeting and held together with Laser Science, the 32th annual meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Laser Science (DLS). The two meetings unite the OSA and APS communities for five days of quality, cutting-edge presentations, in-demand invited speakers and a variety of special events spanning a broad range of topics in optics and photonics—the science of light—across the disciplines of physics, biology and chemistry. The exhibit floor will feature leading optics companies, technology products and programs. More information at: FrontiersinOptics.org.
About The Optical Society
Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit: osa.org/100.
Media Contacts:
mediarelations@osa.org
