FiO 2023 Honorees

Optica is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of our community.

Please join us in congratulating the Honorary Members, Award/Medal winners and Fellows being recognized during FiO.

 

Optica Honorary Members

The most distinguished of all Optica Member categories, Honorary Membership is awarded for unique, seminal contributions to the field of optics, and is confirmed by the Awards Council and Optica Board of Directors.

Robert L Byer
Stanford University, USA

For pioneering contributions to the scientific and technological foundations of lasers and nonlinear optics, dedicated service to the optics community, and leadership in academia and professional societies.

Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize

The Ives Medal/Quinn Prize recognizes overall distinction in optics and is Optica’s highest award. It was endowed by charter member Herbert Ives, in honor of his father, photography pioneer Frederic Ives. A subsequent endowment in honor of long-time Executive Director Jarus Quinn funds the prize.

Robert Boyd
University of Ottawa, Canada and University of Rochester, USA

For pioneering contributions to nonlinear optics, including slow light, quantum imaging, and the development of nanocomposite optical materials and metamaterials..

 

Esther Hoffman Beller Medal

Established in 1993, the medal recognizes outstanding contributions to education in optical science and engineering.

Harold Metcalf
Stony Brook University, USA

For outstanding mentorship of undergraduate students in hands-on optics research and for organizing an annual symposium for students to present their work during the FiO/LS conference.
 

Max Born Award

Established in 1982 to honor Max Born, who made distinguished contributions to physics in general and optics in particular, the medal is presented for outstanding contributions to physical optics, theoretical or experimental.

Marin Soljacic
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

For seminal contributions to the fields of plasmonics, electromagnetism, and topological photonics.
 

Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award

Established in 2012 to honor Michael Feld for his fundamental contributions to applications of photonics technologies to solving biomedical problems. The award recognizes individuals for their innovative and influential contributions to the field of biophotonics, regardless of their career stage.

Brian T. Cunningham
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

For innovative and transformative research in optical sensing, spectroscopy, and microscopy as well as leadership and entrepreneurship in technology development of photonic crystal biosensors.
 

Nick Holonyak Jr. Award

Established in 1997 to honor Nick Holonyak Jr., who has made distinguished contributions to the field of optics through the development of semiconductor based light emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers, the award honors significant contributions to optics based on semiconductor-based optical devices and materials, including basic science and technological applications.

Yeshaiahu Fainman
University of California San Diego, USA

For pioneering contributions to nanoscale science and engineering of ultra-small, sub-micrometer semiconductor light emitters and nanolasers for information processing systems applications.

Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award

Established in 1997 and named in honor of Robert E. Hopkins in 2021, the award recognizes an individual or group who has had a significant impact on the global optics and photonics community or on society as a whole stemming from non-research oriented activities.

Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
University of São Paulo -  Inst de Fisica de Sao Carlos, Brazil          

For outstanding contributions to the global impact of optics and photonics and for promoting the field to the general public world-wide.
 

Edwin Land Medal

Established in 1992 to honor Edwin H. Land for his unique career as scientist, technologist, industrialist, humanist and public servant, the medal recognizes pioneering work empowered by scientific research to create inventions, technologies, and products. It is jointly presented with the Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T).

Susana Marcos
University of Rochester, USA               

For pioneering developments and translation of diagnostic and correction ophthalmic technologies impacting millions of patients worldwide.

 

Emmett N. Leith Medal

Established in 2006 to honor Emmett N. Leith, a world-renowned scientist in holography and optical information processing, the medal recognizes seminal contributions to the field of optical information processing.

David Jones Brady
University of Arizona, USA

For for the invention of sparse holography.
 

C.E.K. Mees Medal

Established in 1961 in memory of charter member C. E. K. Mees, who contributed preeminently to the development of scientific photography, the medal recognizes an original use of optics across multiple fields.

Scott Diddams
University of Colorado at Boulder, USA              

For pioneering innovations leading to the wide-ranging application of optical frequency combs to ultrafast lasers, optical clocks, spectroscopy, microwave synthesis, and astronomy.

 

David Richardson Medal

Established in 1966 to honor David Richardson’s unique contributions to applied optics. It recognizes those who have made significant contributions to optical engineering, primarily in the commercial and industrial sector.

Turan Erdogan
Plymouth Grating Laboratory, Inc., USA

For numerous contributions to the commercial development of optical components and technologies through remarkable entrepreneurship and business acumen leading to products and applications in numerous areas including optical fiber systems, medical optics, and femtosecond laser technology.

Kevin P. Thompson Optical Design Innovator Award

Established in 2017 in memory of Kevin P. Thompson, who, among many other accomplishments, was known for leading breakthroughs in the understanding of the aberration fields of a new class of truly nonsymmetric optical systems using freeform optical surfaces, the award recognizes contributions to lens design, optical engineering, or metrology at an early career stage.

Dr. Eric M. Schiesser, PhD
Synopsys Inc., Optical Solutions Group, USA

For innovation and rigor in optical design methodology.

Edgar D. Tillyer Award

Established in 1953 to honor of Edgar D. Tillyer’s important contributions to the advancement of better vision and the optical sciences. It is presented to an individual who has performed distinguished work in the field of vision, including (but not limited to) the optics, physiology, anatomy or psychology of the visual system.

Andrew Watson
Apple Inc., USA

For pioneering the application of computational approaches to understand foundational aspects of spatial and temporal vision as well as motion perception and their influential application in the field of image quality.

 

Optica Treasurer's Award

Established in 2016 this award recognizes an Optica staff member who makes significant contributions to organizational excellence, promotes and enacts innovative solutions or exemplifies inspirational leadership.

Stewart Wills
Optica, USA

For his long-term commitment to excellence in visual design, communication, and impact, for Optics & Photonics News and Optica as a whole.

 

R.W. Wood Prize

Established in 1975 to honor the many contributions that R.W. Wood made to optics, the prize recognizes an outstanding discovery, scientific or technical achievement, or invention in the field of optics.

Alexandra Boltasseva
Purdue University, USA

For groundbreaking contributions to the materials aspects of metamaterials, plasmonics, and nanophotonics.