Optica celebrates Engineering Week
Leah Poffenberger, Corporate Communications Manager, Optica
Caption: Engineers visited Optica's Washington DC headquarters for a celebratory networking happy hour.
Credit: Ana Fowler
“Scientists study the world as it is; engineers create a world that has never been,” Theodore von Karman, Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer, and physicist.
The innovation and ideas of engineers underpins our everyday lives, from the roads we drive on to the fiber optic systems that keep us connected. The work of engineers pushes us forward to the future, with new technologies like self-driving cars, and allows us to peek into the past with the James Webb Space Telescope. Optica is proud to have a vibrant community of both scientists and engineers using optics to solve challenges and bring new ideas to life.
Each year, on the third week of February, the United States observes Engineering Week to acknowledge the work of engineers and inspire a future generation. The National Society of Professional Engineers established the event in 1951, which is celebrated by more than 70 engineering, education and cultural societies—including Optica. The third week of February was selected to align with the observation of President’s day, the US holiday honoring George Washington’s birthday. Washington is considered “the nation’s first engineer.”
Caption: Mark Lutkowitz, Principal and co-founder of fibeReality, LLC, spoke at the Engineering Week event, providing a history of turning points in optical engineering and how he thinks engineering can make the world a better place.
Credit: Ana Fowler
“Optical engineering has given me an opportunity to work on exciting projects, like James Webb and the Roman [Space Telescope], that really push the boundaries of what’s possible,” says Optica Ambassador Margaret Dominguez, an optical engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. “I hope to inspire other young women to dive into optics and engineering and build the next generation of groundbreaking technologies.”
To celebrate Engineering Week, Optica held its third annual engineering week webinar series “Create the Future: Innovative Solutions for the Next Generation.” Topics ranged from bringing photonics innovation to the marketplace to a discussion of how to impact the next generation of engineers. Optica has also invited engineers from the Washington DC area of all disciplines to visit Optica’s Washington DC headquarters on 24 February for a celebratory happy hour.
Optica’s members are working on new engineering solutions across disciplines and the world. Meet some of Optica’s senior members here: Greg Wolf (Edmund Optics) and Matt Novak (Synospys); Joe Marron (Raytheon); Dana Granciu (Întreprinderea Optică Română (IOR), Romania); and José M. Medina.
The celebration of engineers continues on March 4, with World Engineering Day. Mark your calendars, and thank an engineer!
