Anderson S. L. Gomes

Profile

Anderson Stevens Leonidas Gomes was born in Recife, Pernambuco. He holds a bachelor's degree (1978) and a master's degree (1982) in Physics from the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). He earned his Ph.D. in Laser Physics from Imperial College London, UK (1986) and later completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University, USA (1992).

A retired Professor of Physics at UFPE, he remains active as a member of the Graduate Programs in Physics and Dentistry. His research focuses on laser applications in nano and biophotonics, nonlinear optics, and nonlinear photonic devices. Over his career, he has co-authored more than 300 scientific publications, with an H-index of 48 on Google Scholar and 36 on the Web of Science. He has also supervised 40 master's dissertations and 20 doctoral theses.

Gomes holds a CNPq Fellowship (Level 1A), the highest level of recognition for Brazilian researchers. He is a Fellow of Optica and served as President of the International Council (2011–2012). Additionally, he is a Full Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, where he serves as the Regional Vice-President for the Northeast of Brazil, and a member of The World Academy of Sciences.

In recognition of his contributions to science in Brazil, he was awarded the National Order of Scientific Merit at the Commander Class (2010) and the Grand Cross Class (2023)—both prestigious Presidential honors.

Gomes has played a key role in science policy and education in Brazil. He served as: Coordinator for Physics and Astronomy at CAPES (2008–2010); Member of the Physics Council of CNPq; Member of Brazilian science policy committees for higher education; Secretary of State for Science, Technology, and Environment of Pernambuco (2010) and Secretary of State for Education of Pernambuco (2011–2012).

He has also contributed significantly to international conferences in Optics and Photonics, founding the Latin America Optics and Photonics Conference (LAOP, Optica) in 2010 and is chair of the International Conference on Nanophotonics (ICNP).  He was an Associate Editor for Advances in Optics and Photonics and currently serves as an Associate Editor of Light: Science & Applications and member of the Editorial Advisory Committee at Optics and Photonics News. He served as the Brazilian Representative for Optica for CAPES, dealing with the Journals consortia.

At the national level, he was a member of the Council of the National Brazilian Fund for the Development of Science and Technology (2021–2023), a committee responsible for budgeting S&T investments in Brazil. He also serves on the Photonics Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. In 2024, he was the Deputy Executive Secretary for the V Brazilian National Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation, which shaped Brazil’s strategic S&T plan for the next decade.

Currently, Gomes is a member of the Graduate Program at UFPE and Director at the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE), a Brazilian agency linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

Election Statement

Optica is all about people. It is a P-to-P community: People – scientists, students, and industry professionals, and the Optica staff collaborating to bring optical science and technology information to People – its worldwide membership and the overall society.

As science knows no borders, Optica brings optics and photonics without borders all over the world, serving more than 24,000 members in 110 countries. The membership benefits from a society whose core values start with an I and are very powerful: I⁴ = innovation, integrity, impact, and inclusivity. Based on these four premises, if elected, my contribution to the society will be continued growth towards a future based on the following points:

• Innovation: In line with Optica’s vision, work on an Optics and Photonics roadmap aimed at shaping the future of the optics and photonics community, considering recent global achievements and challenges.
• Integrity: Help to update the Optica 2030 Green Paper and Strategic Plan.
• Impact: Create a Reach Out to the World (ROW) program to go beyond current programs, such as traveling to build scientific diplomacy worldwide, bringing optics and photonics to bear on the community’s needs, and demonstrating its global societal and economic impact.
• Inclusivity: Engage with dialogue, listening, and acting together with the membership to increase the benefits from and to all through all the tools in Optica’s portfolio, therefore, strengthening and expanding Optica’s global role.

I joined Optica, then OSA, as a graduate student (1983–1987) at Imperial College London and remained a member throughout my career, ultimately being a full professor at the Physics Department of the Universidade Federal of Pernambuco. Since interacting with Optica means engagement, my first volunteer activity was as a member of the International Council (2008–2010) and as its Chair (2011–2012) and Past Chair (2013). Serving as the International Council Chair and a member of the Board of Directors was my first real training in science management, interacting with colleagues from different countries, and helping to transition Optica to become the global society it is today. I became an Optica Fellow in 2010, the same year the Latin American Optics and Photonics (LAOP) Conference was created thanks to our proposal at the International Council. Besides attending Optica conferences throughout the years, I served as Associate Editor of Advances in Optics Photonics from 2014 to 2016 and was a member of several awards committees. I also acted as the official Optica representative at CAPES, a Brazilian agency dealing with the purchase of Optica Journals for Brazilian institutions. My experience in supporting science and education within the Brazilian government, both at a local and national level, will assist me in supporting members to be active in their local governments.

I am eager to work with the People of Optica and merge my vision of the future with the vision of society. I will bring my unique point of view at a pivotal time for Optica as a society serving a global community of scientists, students, engineers, and industry professionals.