2024 Kevin P. Thompson Optical Design Innovator Award Winner

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Optica Names Samuel Steven the 2024 Kevin P. Thompson Optical Design Innovator Award Recipient

Optica is pleased to announce that Samuel Steven has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Kevin P. Thompson Optical Design Innovator Award. Steven is honored for the introduction of nodal aberration theory to the design of ophthalmic imaging instrumentation and the generalization of the Alvarez lens to achieve tunable correction of chromatic aberrations. Steven’s work has advanced the field of retinal imaging and helped expand our understanding of vision and our ability to develop treatments to prevent blindness.

Steven received his BS in Optical Engineering from the University of Rochester, USA, his MS in Technical Entrepreneurship and Management from the Simon Business School and Hajim School of Engineering at the University of Rochester, and his PhD in Optics from The Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester. He is currently an Optical Design Engineer and Research Scientist at Apple Inc., USA.

His doctoral work focused on the design of ophthalmic imaging instrumentation in which he explored the aberration theory for unobscured reflective relay systems and introduced a generalized Alvarez lens system to achieve tunable correction of chromatic aberrations. In his role at Apple, he continues to solve challenging optical design problems focusing on the design and prototyping of novel technologies.

Established in 2017, the Optical Design Innovator Award recognizes significant contributions, at an early career stage, to lens

Steven in the lab while working on his PhD at The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester

design, optical engineering or metrology as evidenced by one or more of the following: innovative and rigorous research, optical system design with a foundation in aberration theory, development of advanced metrology capabilities, product development and patents or publications. The award honors Kevin P. Thompson, whose many other accomplishments include leading breakthroughs in the understanding of the aberration fields of a new class of truly non-symmetric optical systems using freeform optical surfaces. It is endowed by several supporters including Jannick Rolland and Synopsys.

About Optica

Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica’s renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement.