IRSC to Host Optics & Photonics Industry Symposium and Community Festival on April 12
IRSC to Host Optics & Photonics Industry Symposium and Community Festival on April 12
March 23, 2023 Suzanne Seldes
FORT PIERCE, FL— More than 100 attendees from industry, academia and government throughout the United States—including leaders from the International Optics and Photonics Society/OPTICA (formerly OSA) and the Center for Optics Manufacturing/AmeriCOM and senior representatives from two national laboratories—will convene at Indian River State College's Massey Campus on Wednesday, April 12, for a discussion of photonics and optics technologies and its worldwide impact on industry sectors such as space exploration, defense, energy, advanced manufacturing, telecommunications, healthcare and testing and measuring.
The invitation-only symposium, presented in cooperation with LASER-TEC and the Florida Photonics Cluster, will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the IRSC Kight Center for Emerging Technologies in Fort Pierce. The impressive speaker line-up includes:
- United States Congressman Brian Mast, 21st Congressional District & Co-chair of the Congressional Optics & Photonics Caucus
- Dr. Timothy Moore, President, Indian River State College
- Dr. Andrew Brown, Senior Director of Global Business Development, International Society for Optics and Photonics
- Jay Kumler, President, Jenoptik North America
- Dr. Zhi Liao, Workforce Manager, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, National Ignition Facility, California
- Dr. Alexey Glebov, General Manager & President, OptiGrate- IPG Photonics
- Dr. Ty Olmstead, Vice President for Engineering, Ocean Optics
- Albert Miranda, Chief Financial Officer, LightPath Technologies
- Natalia Chekhovskaya, Executive Director Advanced Manufacturing and Principal Investigator & Director of the National Center for Lasers and Fiber Optics education, LASER-TEC
"From the National Science Foundation's LASER-TEC center to businesses like Jenoptik, the Treasure Coast is leading the way in optics and photonics," said Congressman Brian Mast. "This is an industry that is shaping the future. I applaud Indian River State College, LASER-TEC and the Florida Photonics Cluster for hosting these critical conversations about the potential of optics and photonics and how to grow the skilled workforce to foster innovation."
A family-friendly Optics & Photonics Community Festival will immediately follow the symposium in the Kight Center Atrium from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The free, all-ages event will feature hands-on activities, lectures, and tours that illuminate the role of photonics and lasers in everyday life and the future:
- Go hands-on in the Maker's Corner and take home a light-inspired craft
- Learn how laser fusion can create sustainable energy for our planet
- Explore the evolution of telescopes
- Take guided tours of IRSC Photonics, High-Power Laser and Quantum Photonics labs
- Marvel at "A World of Light," a display of images from artists around the globe
- View project displays from students in IRSC's Laser Club
- Take a selfie with a giant lens
The IRSC Optics & Photonics Community Festival is made possible with the support of Indian River State College, LASER-TEC, Florida Photonics Cluster and Jenoptik Optical Systems.
For more information about the Symposium or the Festival, email Natalia Chekhovskaya at nchekhov@irsc.edu.