The International Society for Optical Engineering, SPIE, presented Rudolf and Hilda Kingslake Professor of Optical Engineering Duncan Moore with a gold medal, their top honor.
The award is given annually and meant to recognize outstanding scientific accomplishments in optics, electro-optics, photographic technologies or applications. The honorarium is $10,000.
Moore won the honor for his pioneering research in gradient-index lenses – lenses which have made desktop copiers and faxes possible.
These tiny lenses are inspired by the way insect’s eyes work and allow light to travel in curved paths.
Moore earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from the Institute of Optics at UR. His theses were on gradient-index optics.
At UR he was also the Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the director of the Institute of Optics.
“It is highly appropriate that SPIE should choose to honor Duncan Moore with this prize,” Director of the Institute of Optics Wayne Knox said. “He is a consummate leader and educator in the field of optical engineering, and exemplifies the innovation and entrepreneurial leadership that are characteristic of many of our graduates.”Laser lab hosts high school summer program UR’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics will host 12 high school students this summer to encourage scientific experience in highly motivated students.
The students will work on projects at the LLE for eight weeks.
All of the students’ projects will be related in some way to the Omega and Omega EP lasers, of which the first is the most powerful ultraviolet laser in the world.
Each student will work for 40 hours per week at the lab and will be paid as an employee.
This program has encouraged science and technology in the Rochester area for the last 17 years. It is currently supervised by LLE senior scientist Stephen Craxton.
In previous years, students participating in the LLE program have been recognized nationally for their work, earning awards at such venues as the Intel Science Talent Search and the Siemens Westinghouse national competition.
In 2005, two LLE students reached the semifinals of the Intel competition.
From Jul. 10 to Aug. 30, students will work and hear lectures from LLE faculty and staff. At the end of their eight weeks, students will present their work to their peers.Li elected to prestigious engineering post Albert A. Hopeman Professor of Engineering James C. M. Li has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. This honor is one of the greatest in the engineering field.
“Jim is known for his nurturing of students and encouraging all his students to achieve their very best,” Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Stephen J. Burns said. “He likes to talk with students and see that their goals and aspirations are achieved.”
It was his research into “glassy metals” that won him this award. His research has led to the creation of a glassy metal that engineers use to make electrical transformers that transfer energy more efficiently than conventional transformers.Reporting by Bonnie Jarrett and Matt Majarian.
