21 - 24 September, 2024
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colorado USA
The goal is to introduce 50 Black physics and engineering undergraduate or first year Master’s students annually to the research and career opportunities in optics and photonics and to the Optica community.
Following is a general overview of the program timeline and description.
Program Timeline
The program will run 21-24 September (4 days and 3 nights) co-located with the Optica annual meeting Frontiers in Optics:
- Saturday, 21 September – arrival and networking event
- Sunday, 22 September – Immersion programming, Student Leadership plenary and party
- Monday 23 September – FiO/Student Leadership programming, DLS Symposium on Undergraduate Research
- Tuesday 24 September – show floor tour, Plenary and departure
Program Description
Time will be split between programming designed specifically for this group, joint activities with the Optica Student Leadership program, and attending FiO talks and programming. The activities for the Immersion attendees will include:
- Overview of optics and photonics research, technologies and career opportunities.
- Introduction to Optica and of FiO technical program and special events with programming on getting the most out of the experience.
- Participation in the DLS Symposium on Undergraduate Research
- Participation in FiO activities including small group guided tours of FiO exhibit floor and the opening Plenary talk.
- Informal networking activities and meals
Schedule and speakers subject to change.
Afternoon Arrivals
17:30 – 19:00 Welcome Reception, Room 3G, Mile Highroom Ballroom
07:30 – 08:30 Breakfast, Room 3G, Mile Highroom Ballroom
08:30 – 08:45 Welcome, Mile Highroom Ballroom, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado
Elizabeth Rogan, CEO, Optica, USA
Marcia Lesky, Sr. Director Diversity & Foundation Programs, Optica, USA
08:45 – 09:15 Introductions & Kick-off with Master of Ceremonies, Room 3G
Kenneth Barber, Edmund Optics, USA
09:15 – 10:15 Enabled By Optics, TBD
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 11:30 Keynote 1, TBD
11:30 – 12:30 Keynote 2, TBD
12:30 – 13:30 Networking Lunch
13:30 – 14:30 Opportunities in Optics
Mamadou Dio, Lawson Health Research Institute, Canada
Casie Hanson, BAE Systems Inc, USA
14:30 – 15:30 Keynote 3, TBD
15:30 – 16:00 Break
16:00 – 17:15 Being Black in STEM, Room 3G
George Okyere Dwapanyin, University of St Andrews, UK
Timothy Oshiobughie Imogore, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany
Joshua Burrow, Brown University, USA
Ivy Krystal Jones, Hampton University, USA
17:15 – 17:30 Small Group Project
George Okyere Dwapanyin, University of St Andrews, UK
17:30 – 18:00 Q&A and Closing, Room 3G
Kenneth Barber, Edmund Optics, USA
19:00 – 22:00 Student Activity, TBD
07:30 – 08:30 Breakfast, Room 3G, Mile Highroom Ballroom
08:00 – 8:30 Breakfast Talk: A Word About Frontiers in Optics from the Chair
Andrew Forbes, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
10:30 – 12:00 Optica Foundation Challenge Symposia, Use photonics. Change the world. Information Symposium, Room 2H
12:00 – 13:00 Joint Lunch, Mile Highroom Ballroom
DLS, Symposium on Undergraduate Research
14:00 – 15:00 Optica Foundation Challenge Symposia, Room 2H. Use Photonics. Change the World: Environment Symposium
15:30 – 17:00 Optica Foundation Challenge Symposia, Room 2H. Use Photonics. Change the World: Health Symposium
17:00– 18:00 Meet the Foundation Challenge Winners Happy Hour, TBD
17:00 – 18:00 Small Group Presentations, TBD
07:30 – 08:30 Breakfast, Room 3G, Mile Highroom Ballroom
08:00 – 8:30 Breakfast talk: FiO's Science & Industry Showcase: Opportunities and Future in Optics, Room 3G, Mile Highroom Ballroom
Tom Hausken Optica Science Advisors & New Business Development, USA
12:00 – 13:00 Starting Point: Meet the Exhibitors, Science & Industry Showcase
13:45 - 14:30 FiO Plenary: , Showcase Theater
Afternoon Departures
