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13 February 2019
The Optical Society Names Allister I. Ferguson 2019 Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award Recipient
13 February 2019
The Optical Society Names Allister I. Ferguson 2019 Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award Recipient
Laser researcher honored for leadership in creating major optics and photonics research centers
WASHINGTON—The Optical Society (OSA) is pleased to name Allister I. Ferguson, University of Strathclyde, U.K. the 2019 Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award recipient. Ferguson is honored for extraordinary leadership creating major international optics and photonics research centers and programs that support the global optics and photonics community.
Ferguson
“Allister Ferguson has created tremendous opportunities for the advancement of optics and photonics via the major international cooperative organizations, such as SU2P, that he has established,” said OSA President Ursula Gibson. “He is an exemplary recipient of the Hopkins Leadership Award.”
Ferguson was educated at the University of St. Andrews, U.K., where he received his bachelor and doctoral degrees in 1974 and 1977 respectively. With the aid of a Lindemann Fellowship, he worked with Art Schawlow and Ted Haenach at Stanford University, U.S.A. Returning to the U.K. in 1979, he held faculty positions at the Universities Oxford and Southampton before becoming chair of photonics at the University of Strathclyde, in 1989. He was deputy principal and is now senior adviser to the principal and vice chancellor.
Ferguson has made significant contributions to lasers, laser spectroscopy and nonlinear optics. He has worked on a number of applications from basic science to biomedical applications. At Strathclyde, he has established a number of interface organizations including the Institute of Photonics, Centre for Biophotonics and SU2P (a consortium of Scottish Universities with Stanford and Caltech, U.S.A.). He has been instrumental in Coherent Inc. and Fraunhofer locating facilities in Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
Established in 1997 to help strengthen the link between the optics community and the public, the Hopkins Award recognizes an individual or group who has had a significant impact on the global optics and photonics community or on society as a whole stemming from non-research oriented activities. The award was named in honor of Robert E. Hopkins in 2012. It was endowed by Milton Chang and New Focus.
About The Optical Society
Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and entrepreneurs 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.
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