College News

In recognition of the profound impact of his academic and business leadership; scientific and engineering advances; and generous philanthropic contributions to higher education, the University of Arizona awarded Dr. James C. Wyant with an Honorary Doctorate in Optical Sciences. Wyant was among the six distinguished business and community leaders and humanitarians to receive this distinction from the University at the spring commencement ceremony on Friday May 12, 2023.  

The Wyant College of Optical Sciences celebrates the establishment of the William F. and Helen M. Reynolds Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences with the endowment’s donor, Robert O. Reynolds (M.S. 2003).

On Monday, May 1st, Wyant College of Optical Sciences and College of Engineering teams showcased their interdisciplinary final projects in a packed Student Union Memorial Center Ballroom, as well as beneath a large tent on the Mall. Students, faculty, staff and judges met the teams and learned about the industry-sponsored senior capstones in the most highly-anticipated event of the year for engineering and innovation. 

Congratulations to Luke Benoit; Sydney Arriaga, Joey McAllister, and Junna Stockwell on their huge success moving forward with their biomedical startup RevoLens. This past year, the team has won $6,000 in award-monies and is preparing to launch the technology with University of Arizona Center for Innovation

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Judy Su on being selected for the University Early Career Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award. 

Using ChatGPT for a little experimentation, Tammy Wyant, OSC Volunteer Historian, took the new technology for a spin and is now presenting the Wyant College with a selection of limericks written in 1976 for an early OSA (today, Optica) meeting versus modern ChatGPT re-writes. Can you decipher which is the professor and which is the bot? Answers to be announced in Apr. 20 issue of Watts Up!

Women in Optics and the Student Optics Chapter are holding  elections for next year's officers! Are you a future leader!? More info on positions linked in the form. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Sebastian Magri or Clarissa DeLeon.

Maggie Kautz, Colin Potter, and Christian Pluchar are receiving the prestigious recognition as 2023 ARCS Foundation Scholars. Congratulations!