Award | Honorary Members

Duncan T. Moore Named Honorary Member

Optica has named Duncan T. Moore an Optica Honorary Member, the most distinguished of all Optica Member categories. Moore is recognized for pioneering contributions to gradient-index optics, leadership in public policy, dedicated service to the optics community and distinguished roles in academia, government and professional societies. He is currently the Rudolf and Hilda Kingslake Emeritus Professor of Optical Engineering at The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, USA.

“Duncan has been a leader in our field for over 50 years, inspiring future scientists and entrepreneurs, advancing optical design and engineering and helping shape public policy,” said Jim Kafka, 2025 Optica President. “In fact, Duncan was my first optics Professor, and I was part of his first group of undergraduate students at the University of Rochester. It is an honor to recognize such a dedicated and talented member of our community.” 

Moore has experience in the academic, research, business and government areas of science and technology. He is an expert in gradient-index optics, computer-aided design and the manufacture of optical systems. He has been a committed member of Optica for over 50 years, serving in numerous roles, from editorial positions to program chair of Optica technical meetings, membership on the Technical Council, Annual Meeting Chair and Optica at-large Board of Directors Member. He served as society President in 1996 and was the principal motivator for Optica to become more involved in public policy issues. He continues to serve on Optica's Presidential Advisory Committee.

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Award | News Release

David A. B. Miller Receives the 2025 Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize

Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, has named David A. B. Miller, Stanford University, USA, the 2025 Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize recipient. Miller is recognized for fundamental scientific and engineering research contributions spanning multiple areas, including optics in digital systems, fundamentals of optics and waves, and complex and controllable photonic circuits.  

“David Miller is a highly innovative scientist, who has made multiple fundamental contributions to optics,” said Jim Kafka, 2025 Optica President. “He is also a talented educator and dedicated volunteer, and I have had the distinct pleasure of learning from him during many of my visits to Stanford. It is a pleasure to congratulate him on this well-deserved honor."

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Award | News Release

Optica names recipients of 2025 Awards and Medals

"On behalf of the Optica Board, I congratulate the 2025 Optica award and medal recipients,” said Jim Kafka. “Their outstanding work is driving our field forward. I would also like to thank those who nominated candidates, submitted references, and served on selection committees—your service and support in recognizing members of our community is greatly appreciated."

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Award | News Release

Announcing the 2025 Optica Fellows Class

The Board of Directors of  Optica recently elected 121 members from 27 countries to the Society’s 2025 Fellow Class. Optica Fellows are selected based on several factors, including outstanding contributions to research, business, education, engineering, and service to Optica and our community.

“Congratulations to the 2025 class of Optica Fellows,” said Jim Kafka, 2025 Optica President. “These members are making important contributions to our society and field. We thank them for their dedication and are incredibly proud to celebrate their accomplishments.”

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Award | News Release

Masatoshi Suzuki Receives 2025 John Tyndall Award

Optica and the IEEE Photonics Society have named Masatoshi Suzuki, Chitose Institute of Science and Technology, Japan, the 2025 John Tyndall Award recipient. Suzuki is recognized for pioneering and seminal contributions to large capacity long-haul optical communication systems including integrated light sources, dispersion-managed soliton, WDM submarine cable systems, and spatial multiplexing.

“Masatoshi Suzuki’s outstanding work revolutionized optical communications,” said Gerd Leuchs, Optica 2024 President. “His achievements have allowed us to keep pace with the ever-growing demands to connect faster and at higher capacities.” Perry Shum, IEEE Photonics Society President added, "Professor Suzuki's contributions continue to influence the future of optical communication. His dedication to advancing technology and fostering innovation has left an indelible mark on the field, inspiring future generations of researchers and engineers."

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Award | News Release

Michael Fleischhauer Named 2025 Herbert Walther Award Recipient

Optica and the Deutsche Physikalische Gesell­schaft (DPG) have named Michael Fleischhauer, Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität (RPTU) Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany, the recipient of the 2025 Herbert Walther Award. He is recognized for key contributions in nonlinear quantum optics as well as photonic and atomic quantum technologies - in particular for the development of a toolbox to coherently control multi-level atoms with light, including the concept of dark state polaritons and Rydberg dipole blockade physics.

He has led a number of influential international collaborations, is a dedicated mentor, and has served the community through his work on the editorial boards, advisory boards, and international conference committees. A pioneer in the field, Fleischhauer’s work has had a profound impact across a range of fields from quantum networking and quantum information science to on-chip optical interconnects for advanced classical computing, and even sensing and metrology. 

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