OSA Student Chapter Benefits
OSA Student Chapters provide a huge array of benefits & career-building opportunities.
Listed below are just some of the benefits OSA Student Chapter members receive. But beyond this support, chapter participation helps each student member to gain technical knowledge and establish contacts with leaders in the field.
Grants
Start-Up Grants - Each new Student Chapter receives $250 USD in start-up funding. Information on starting and funding a chapter is available online.
Activity Grants – Chapters have the opportunity to apply for annual Activity Grants supporting professional development, youth education outreach and various Chapter events. Program details are available online.
Networking
Web Site Hosting - OSA hosts chapter Web sites free of charge. Contact chaptersandsections@osa.org for details.
Free Event Calendar – Expand your reach by advertising your event on OSA’s free student event calendar!
International OSA Network of Students (IONS) - IONS meetings are technical and professional development-focused events that are organized and managed by student chapters. OSA provides funding and administrative support.
Programs and Materials
Excellence Award - OSA annually recognizes outstanding chapters in the areas of advocacy, youth education and professional development programming. Winners receive an Excellence Award certificate and $1,000 USD. Information is available online.
Traveling Lecturer Program - Chapters receive funding for a guest speaker of their choice annually. Program information and a directory of available speakers are available online.
Leadership Conference - A representative from each chapter receives a travel grant to attend the annual Student Chapter Leadership Conference that is held in concert with OSA's Annual Meeting, "Frontiers in Optics." Conference activities include technical and professional development sessions and many opportunities for networking.
Youth Education Resources - Educational outreach is one of the most important and significant ways OSA supports local communities and inspires tomorrow's young scientists. The OSA offers online resources, a variety of classroom materials, which are primarily free of charge and events for educators that address the needs of students from elementary school through university studies.
Visit the ‘Youth Education’ section of osa.org to view a complete listing of available resources and to order materials. We encourage you to contact: opticseducation@osa.org to learn more about OSA's education outreach program.
E-Newsletter - Chapter members receive Focal Point an electronic newsletter written by OSA Local Section and Student Chapter members.
Student Chapter Handbook - A complete guide to OSA Student Member & Chapter benefits, upcoming conferences, networking opportunities and more!