An Introduction to the Optics and Photonics Society

NICHOLAS H. L. WONG

President

4th Year StudentOptoelectronics Research CentreUniversity of Southampton

30th September, 2015

Outline

• The OSA

• SPIE

• OPSoc

• History

• Academic Activities

• Social Activities

• Outreach Activities

• Special IYL 2015 Activities

• Membership and Participation

• Conclusions

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The OSA

• Founded in 1916 as the Optical Society of America

• Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA

• To promote the generation, dissemination, application, and archiving of knowledge in optics and photonics

• Renamed The Optical Society in 2008 (retained ‘OSA’ brand)

• 19,000 members as of 2015

• Publishes journals such as Optics Express, Optics Letters, JOSA, Optica, J. Lightwave Technology

• Organises conferences such as OFC, CLEO, FiO/LS, ASSL

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SPIE

• Founded in 1955 as the Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers

• Headquarters: Bellingham, WA, USA

• To serve scientists and engineers in industry, academia, and government working in a wide variety of fields that utilize some aspect of optics and photonics, the science and application of light

• Renamed SPIE in 2007

• 18,000+ members

• Publishes journals such as Optical Engineering, J. Biomedical Optics

• Organises conferences such as SPIE Photonics West, SPIE Optics+Photonics

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The Optics and Photonics Society

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University of Southampton Optics and Photonics Society

OSA Student Chapter SPIE Student Chapter

Academic Social Outreach

Lightwave

ActivitiesSpecial

Cultural CharityRecreational

The Optics and Photonics Society

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• 53 OSA student members

• 27 SPIE student members

• Committee (AY 2014/2015):• President: Nicholas Wong• Vice President: Miguel Nunez• Treasurer: Amy Tong• Secretary & Charity Officer: Naresh Thipparapu• 1st Year Representative: Rex Bannerman• Education Officer: Pablo Cencillo• Social Officer: Vinita Mittal• Lightwave Director: Matthew Posner

• OSA Chapter Advisor: Prof. Nikolay Zheludev

• SPIE Chapter Advisor: Prof. Johan Nilsson

History

• 1994: OSA Student Chapter established by ORC/P&A students• The 1st international OSA student chapter• To increase the involvement of research students in the activities of

the OSA and to promote greater interaction between students and the wider optics community

• 1998: Lightwave Roadshow created

• 2007: 1st IONS conference in Southampton (2nd worldwide)

• 2011: 2nd IONS conference in Southampton• SPIE Student Chapter established• EPS Young Minds Section established

• 2015: Society rebranded as OPSoc

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Academic Activities

• OPSoc Seminar Series• Invited speaker talks• January: Mr. Stephen G. Anderson, SPIE• February: Dr. Balaji Srinivasan, IIT Madras• April: Mr. Ernesto Barrera, Photontransfer• July: Dr. Mrinmay Pal, CGCRI

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Academic Activities

• International OSA Network of Students (IONS) conferences• Organised by students, for

students• Funding from OSA• 2007 (First IONS conference in

UK) and 2011

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Academic Activities

• Representation at international conferences• Normally by committee officers• SPIE Officer Travel Grant• OSA Student Leadership Conference, USA• One-off:

• Conference on Education and Training in Optics and Photonics, France• Photonics Global Student Conference, Singapore

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Academic Activities

• ORC facilitation and support:• 2nd Year Talks• Study Photonics Open Days• New student inductions• Lab tours for industry visits

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Social Activities

• Cultural/Recreational:• Welcome Lunch• Arctic BBQ• International Food Festival• Bonfire Night Trip• Coffee & Cake• Pub Quizzes• Movie Nights• Pub Crawls• Go Karting

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Social Activities

• Charity:• Movember• ‘Children in Need’ Coffee & Cake• Nepal Earthquake Aid Cake Sale Fundraiser

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Outreach Activities

• The Lightwave Roadshow• More in Matthew’s talk!

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[1] Bricchi, E., Baggett, J. C., Guilhot, D. A., and Musgrave, I. O., “The lightwave road show,” Proc.SPIE, Educ. Train. Opt. Photonics Conf., paper ETuF6 (2003).

[2] Foreman, H. D., Parmigiani, F. R., Roelens, M. A., and Simpson, R. E., “The Lightwave Roadshow,”Proc. SPIE, Educ. Train. Opt. Photonics Conf., 140–148 (2005).

[3] Wong, N. H. L., Posner, M. T., and John, P. V., “The Lightwave Programme and Roadshow: AnOverview and Update,” Proc. SPIE, Educ. Train. Opt. Photonics Conf., paper 979 (2015).

Special IYL 2015 Activities

• Lightwave at the IYL 2015 Opening Ceremony, Paris, January• 4 PhD students• 1 Public Engagement Leader• 2 6th Form Students from Thomas Hardye School• 1 senior physics teacher from Thomas Hardye School

• Aims:• Outreach on an international platform• Exposure for students• Propagation of inspiration

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IYL 2015 Opening Ceremony, Paris

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Special IYL 2015 Activities

• RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, July• ORC-sponsored garden “Reflecting Photonics” designed by gardeners

Helen Elks-Smith and Kate Hart• Gold Medal Winner• People’s Choice Award: Best Large Garden

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OPSoc Profile

• OSA Recruitment Award – twice

• OSA Student Chapter Excellence Prize – four times

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OFFICIALLY AWESOME

Membership and Participation

• Basic membership:• OSA or SPIE membership not required to join OPSoc activities• Mass OSA and SPIE membership application drive in January• Joining either or both these societies is to your own benefit

• Massive student discounts• Conference discounts• Access to publications• Awards

• Committee officership:• Both OSA and SPIE membership required• Play a key role in planning and organising activities for students• Gain professional experience in accounting, grant proposals, public

speaking, event organisation, leadership• Professional development opportunities

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Conclusions

• OPSoc is here to enhance your student experience

• We encourage you to join OSA and SPIE

• We welcome you to join our activities, and even play an active part in being• A Lightwave ambassador• A committee officer• All of the above

• We are always looking for ways to make the society better

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Supporters

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Phil the Photon!

OptoelectronicsResearch Centre

Thank you very much!

And have a

Happy International Year of Light!

For more information, please contactNicholas Wong (President): osa@soton.ac.ukMatthew (Lightwave Director): lightwave@soton.ac.uk

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Questions?

For more information, please contactNicholas Wong (President): osa@soton.ac.ukMatthew (Lightwave Director): lightwave@soton.ac.uk

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