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In this issue: OSA 100-day Centennial Countdown, FiO opportunities, OSA Members making headlines and more.

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OSA: Light in Focus
OSA Member News

Your source for OSA news and events

October 2015

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OSA News

Centennial Countdown
The 100-day Countdown to our 100th Anniversary

Since 1916, The Optical Society has been sparking innovation as the leading global professional association in optics and photonics. We look forward to celebrating this remarkable milestone with our entire community.

Celebrating Optica's Successful First Year

Optica coversIn its first year, Optica has established itself as a trusted source for some of the best and most exciting work in the optics and photonics field. This is demonstrated by 45% growth in article downloads in 2015 (year-to-date), and one in six articles featured in mainstream media because of their broad appeal. Additionally, submissions are coming in at a rate three times higher than expected, indicating the popularity of this OSA Journal amongst authors as a venue for sharing their highest impact work with the optics and photonics community.

Light for a Better World: OSA Participates in International Year of Light Events

As a member of the United States International Year of Light Steering Committee, OSA participated in two events on 12 September to raise global awareness of how light-based technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture and health. More than 500 future scientists and their families converged at the National Museum of the American Indian for “Wonders of Light – Family Science Fun”, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The evening activities included a symposium, “Light for a Better World: A Celebration of U.S. Innovation”, and reception held at the National Academy of Sciences. The symposium featured presentations by Nobel laureates Shuji Nakamura and Eric Betzig, a member of The Optical Society.

IYL Symposium Speakers
OSA Staff Participate in the Preeminent Markup Conference

Markup ConferenceBoth the private sector and governments worldwide rely increasingly on markup-based applications. The annual Balisage conference series is the event where OSA staff can talk to the leaders about the markup technologies that form the basis for new products and services, such as those being developed for OSA Publishing.

Balisage: The Markup Conference 2015 included case studies from journal publishing, regulatory compliance systems large-scale document systems and technical papers presented on a variety of topics including MathML, design of authoring systems and cybersecurity.

At the request of the conference committee, OSA Staff presented posters on Validating JATS Funding Information and Implementing Supplementary Materials at OSA.

OSA Members Making Headlines

Dr. Chris Schaffer, Cornell University, participated in a panel discussion with U.S. Representative Paul Tonko, New York. The forum focused on the federal BRAIN Initiative, a two-year-old effort to support innovative research. Tonko touted his support for funding the scientific research, and panelists discussed its importance in various fields, including neurological disease, traumatic brain injury and mental illness.

The University of Rochester has announced the creation of a new professorship in optics that will recognize Professor Emeritus Nicholas George and his influence in the world of optics and on his students. The Nicholas George Endowed Professorship in Optics was established by a gift from Milton Chang with an additional commitment from Joseph W. Goodman, the William Ayer Professor Emeritus at Stanford University.

Dr. Tongcang Li, Purdue University, is working to put a microbe in two places at once using Erwin Schrödinger's theory of "superposition." Dr. Li’s plans to put a living organism in two places at once is a radical demonstration of quantum theory.

Opportunities

Frontiers in Optics/Laser Science

18 – 22 October, The Fairmont San Jose, San Jose, California, U.S.

FiO/LS 2015 encompasses the breadth of optical science and engineering and provides a place for members to exchange ideas and to expand their network of colleagues in both academia and industry. As a FiO attendee, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in several special events and network with fellow peers and colleagues on the exhibit hall floor.

OSA Fellow Members: Attend Lunch with the OSA Board of Directors during FiO/LS

19 October, 12:00 – 13:30, Ballroom, Westin Hotel San Jose

OSA Fellow Members are invited to join the OSA Board of Directors for a special lunch during FiO/LS 2015. The Westin is located at 302 South Market Street in San Jose.

You must RSVP by 7 October. Send an email to awards@osa.org.

Can’t Make it to FiO? Attend Two FREE Online Broadcasts from the Student Leadership Conference

The Student Leadership Conference is an invitation-only event for student chapter leaders. This year we’re offering live-streams of the keynote and panel discussion. All OSA Members are invited to participate:

Keynote Presentation: The Future is Bright and Light
18 October, 10:45 – 11:30 (PDT)
Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Director of Engineering, Infrastructure Foundation Team, Facebook

Panel Discussion: Illuminating Your Career Path: A Panel Discussion With Hiring Experts
18 October, 14:00-15:00 (PDT)
Both web events will help you get a picture of the opportunities and challenges for graduates beginning their careers in the optics and photonics industry. You can sign up online to view the webcasts at no cost. If you can’t watch it live, archived versions will be available after the conference.

 Visit osa.org/slc for more information.

 
Technical Group Events during FiO/LS

All events are held at The Fairmont San Jose. Please RSVP to tgactivities@osa.org if you plan to attend.

Frontiers in Photonic Detection Panel Discussion
19 October, 12:00–13:30, Belvedere Room
Organized by the Photonic Detection Technical Group, this event will provide an opportunity to discuss recent advances in the field of photonic detection.

Nonlinear Optics Technical Group Workshop
19 October, 12:00 – 13:30, Atherton Room
Join the Nonlinear Optics Technical Group for a special workshop including a discussion on future directions in the field of nonlinear optics.

Microscopy and Optical Coherence Tomography Poster Session
19 October, 18:00 – 19:00, Atherton Room
This focused poster session bringing together students and colleagues for an opportunity to share their latest research findings in this technical group’s field.

Optical Material Studies Technical Group Workshop
20 October, 12:00 – 13:30, Cupertino Room
Join the Optical Material Studies Technical Group for a workshop featuring a presentation from Dr. Debashis Chanda of the University of Central Florida.

Better than Fakin’ it Good: Multifunctional Bioreplication
20 October, 12:00 – 13:30, Fairfield Room
Organized by the Environmental Sensing Technical Group, this event features a talk by Dr. Akhlesh Lakhtakia on bioreplication and its use in the eradication of emerald ash borer.

Optical Fabrication and Testing Technical Group Networking Event
21 October, 18:00 – 20:00, Fairfield Room
Join members of this technical group for a chance to learn more about this community and connect with fellow attendees who share an interest in optical fabrication and testing.

 
Meet the OSA Journal Editors Reception at FiO/LS

19 October, 18:00 – 19:00, Club Regent, Lobby Level

OSA’s Journal Editors invite you to join them for conversation and refreshments at the Meet the OSA Journal Editors Reception. The Editors welcome your questions, concerns and ideas for any of OSA’s Journals. Topics that can be covered include best practices when submitting a manuscript; elements of a useful manuscript review; criteria editors look for in submitted manuscripts and the process to propose a Feature Issue topic for publication in an OSA Journal. No RSVP required.

 
OSA Annual Business Meeting

20 October, 17:00 – 17:45, Fairfield Room

Results of the OSA Election will be announced at the OSA Annual Business Meeting. Attend to learn more about The Optical Society and meet those members who will lead the Society in 2016.

 
The OIDA Town Hall Forum on Biophotonics Challenges & Opportunities

21 October, 18:00 – 20:00, Club Regent, Lobby Level

Please join us for a complimentary open town-hall meeting where thought leaders debate and share perspectives that are critical to understanding the rapidly expanding biophotonics market.

Questions to be discussed include the enabling technology that has the most market traction; challenges and opportunities among photonics technologies; and the best potential for funding. This event's new, interactive format will prioritize key findings for future use by the community. Happy hour drinks and snacks are complimentary.

To submit your question and topics for discussion email Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, OSA, at thausken@osa.org before the event. No RSVP required.

 

Other Opportunities

Support Optics and Photonics in Your Community—Make a Donation to the OSA Foundation

OSAFThe OSA Foundation impacted over 9,400 individuals around the world in 2014 with their programs dedicated to supporting youth education activities in classrooms; providing students and young professionals with grants and awards; and recognizing innovation and advancements made by luminaries in the field.

Help us continue to make a difference globally by making a donation of $100 or more today. Each gift made to the Foundation is matched by The Optical Society, so your gift will have double the impact. In addition, OSA covers the operating costs of the Foundation so every dollar contributed goes directly to supporting programs.

Industry

Enabled by Optics
Share Your Story. Enter the OSA Enabled by Optics Contest.

Submission Deadline: 5 November

You know the extraordinary impact optics technology has played in making technological advances and the critical role it plays in everyday life. This is your chance to explain how your technology has impacted our world.

There are two contest tracks: companies and students. Companies provide a creative narrative on how your technology has impacted society.

Students record a short video (informal videos accepted!) to show how optical technology makes a product (like a laptop) work.

Enter now.

Sponsor the OSA Centennial Celebration. Connect with 270,000 Industry Leaders!

We are inviting your company to be part of the OSA Centennial festivities. Choose one of our three Centennial Sponsorship options (pdf), and your company will be highlighted in a calendar of special events and programs that will provide you with high visibility in the optics and photonics market. A sponsorship opportunity like this happens only once every 100 years!

Looking for a Job or Internship in Optics & Photonics? Use OSA's WORKinOPTICS.com

OSA’s WORKinOPTICS.com connects qualified job, internship seekers and consultants within the optics and photonics community to leading employers in the industry.

Promote your career success by posting your professional profile today. If you’ve already posted your resume, be sure it’s up-to-date. Students--seeking an internship? Post your resume and be included in the internship database searched by companies.

Search WORKinOPTICS job postings.

Experience Time Travel with Executive Speaker Series Playback

Didn't get to attend our Executive Speaker Series interviews? We have a solution. Gain access to online video recordings. OSA's Executive Speaker Series interviews are informal conversations with some of the most engaging executives in our industry. They respond to questions from C-Level peers and share stories about their career paths, and corporate observations.

Watch these recorded video interviews online now. Click the "Archived Interviews" tab.

Executive Speaker Series

OSA Publishing News

 
In the October OPN: Hyperspectral Imaging, LED Street Lights and More

OPNThis month in Optics & Photonics News, read features on how hyperspectral imaging is expanding into applications in food safety, pathogen detection and airport security; some of the unexpected pitfalls of LED street lighting, and how to resolve them; assessing the real impact of medieval scientist Ibn al-Haytham (“Alhazen”) on optical science and more.

Check out the issue.

Upcoming Deadlines

Meeting Deadlines
Publication Deadlines

Meetings Calendar

Diffraction pattern of White LED torch – The image was captured by illuminating a diffraction google with a LED torch. One may easily see the white zero order term along with other diffraction orders. All the diffraction terms (except for zero order) show the different wavelengths diffracted at different angle (longer wavelength diffraction at higher angle). – Manish Kumar, University of Michigan

 

 
Image for keeping the session alive