The Optical Society of America, a locally-based optics group, celebrated its 92nd anniversary at Rochester’s Riverside Convention Center from Oct. 19-23.

In this year’s celebration, known as Frontiers in Optics, OSA was joined by the American Physical Society’s Division of Laser Science.

There was an exhibition by the 100 leading local optics companies on innovative technology. More than 75 local Rochester research papers were presented. Two of the presented topics included New Optics for Improved Solar Power Generators and the Future of Solid-State Lighting.

OSA gave awards to three local scientists at this year’s Frontier in Optics meeting.
Co-founder and president of OptiPro System Michael Bechtold received the conference’s Paul F. Forman Engineering Excellence Award.

Professor of Optical Physics Emil Wolf was presented the 2008 Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award. His book, ‘Introduction to the Theory of Coherence and Polarization of Light,” published in October 2007, is the first book to provide a unified treatment of the phenomena of coherence and polarization.

Graduate student Katie Hasman was named the winner of the first Harvey M. Pollicove Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is given to outstanding graduate students pursuing a degree in the optics field.

Islam is a member of the class of 2012.



Society awards optics community members

URochester’s annual Senior Week always features a full lineup of celebrations for the graduates leading up to Commencement. The contemporary week-long fun is deeply embedded in the history of URochester culture, even though Senior Week and Commencement traditions have changed dramatically over time. Read More

Society awards optics community members

After walking around campus, as well as other areas such as parks in Northwestern New York, spotting birds has become more commonplace. The resident bird species are singing, foraging, and preparing to nest while many migratory birds are starting to arrive. Read More

Society awards optics community members

While looking for something to do on a Friday evening, five of us at the Campus Times made our way down to ESL Ballpark April 17 to catch a Rochester Red Wings game. Our group boasted a Mets fan, a Yankees fan, a Padres fan, a Twins fan, and one person more familiar with cricket than with baseball. Read More