About
21 May 2013
Science Groups Launch National Photonics Initiative in an Effort to Advance the Field of Optics and Photonics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lyndsay Meyer
The Optical Society
+1.202.416.1435
lmeyer@osa.org
Science Groups Launch National Photonics Initiative in an Effort to Advance the Field of Optics and Photonics
Webinar to detail white paper recommendations for US funding and investment in photonics
Historically the United States has been the world leader in deploying photonics research to power cutting-edge technologies, but global competition has put at risk this leadership position, which is causing a substantial loss of global market share to overseas competitors as well as thousands of US jobs. New opportunities arising from photonics research and development, such as 3-D printing, more efficient solar power, improved nuclear threat identification, more accurate cancer detection and the growth of Internet speeds and capacity, offer the potential for even greater societal impact in the next few decades. US investment in photonics-driven fields will create jobs and grow the American economy, protect and improve the lives of its people, and position the United States as a global technology leader.
Establishing the National Photonics Initiative was one of the key recommendations included the US National Academy of Sciences’ 2012 report, “Optics and Photonics: Essential Technologies for our Nation” The NPI is spearheaded by the leading photonics societies – OSA, SPIE, APS, IEEE Photonics Society and LIA – and serves to unite experts in industry, academia and government to identify and advance areas of photonics critical to saving lives, improving the economy, creating jobs and sparking innovation for future generations.
WHEN: Thursday, May 23, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT
WHO: Thomas Baer, NPI Chair
Executive Director, Stanford Photonics Research Center, Stanford University
Co-founder, Arcturus Bioscience, Inc.
Stephen Grubb, Communications Subcommittee Chair
Fellow, Infinera
Mark Taggart, Advanced Manufacturing Subcommittee Chair
President, Laser Mechanism Inc.
Stephen Laderman, Health and Medicine Subcommittee Chair
Director, Molecular Tools Laboratory, Agilent Technologies, Inc
James A. Horkovich, Ph.D., Defense Subcommittee Chair
Directed Energy Professional Society, Board of Directors; Vice President for Public Policy
Fellow, Infinera
Mark Taggart, Advanced Manufacturing Subcommittee Chair
President, Laser Mechanism Inc.
Stephen Laderman, Health and Medicine Subcommittee Chair
Director, Molecular Tools Laboratory, Agilent Technologies, Inc
James A. Horkovich, Ph.D., Defense Subcommittee Chair
Directed Energy Professional Society, Board of Directors; Vice President for Public Policy
REGISTER: Sign up to participate in the free webinar here:
https://npi.peachnewmedia.com/store/seminar/seminar.php?seminar=18841
CONTACT: Erin Hatch (202) 448-5202 ehatch@podesta.com
ABOUT NPI: The National Photonics Initiative (NPI) was created to unite experts in industry, academia and government to identify and advance areas of photonics critical to saving lives, improving the economy, creating jobs and sparking innovation for future generations. These areas include: advanced manufacturing, health care and medicine, defense and national security, information technology and communications, and energy. The NPI is one of the key recommendations in the US National Academy of Sciences 2012 report, "Optics and Photonics: Essential Technologies for our Nation." This initiative is being led by a coalition of scientific societies, including the American Physical Society (APS), the IEEE Photonics Society, the Laser Institute of America (LIA), the Optical Society (OSA) and SPIE.
