Wyant College of Optical Sciences News

Laser Fun Day 2025 welcomed over 300 attendees for an exciting day of hands-on STEM activities at the University of Arizona's College of Optical Sciences. From laser mazes to cow eye dissections, the event sparked curiosity and showcased the wonders of optics, continuing its mission to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Laser Fun Day 2025 welcomed over 300 attendees for an exciting day of hands-on STEM activities at the University of Arizona's College of Optical Sciences. From laser mazes to cow eye dissections, the event sparked curiosity and showcased the wonders of optics, continuing its mission to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The second annual UArizona Museum Day, held on March 29, 2025, was a fantastic success for all campus museums! The Wyant College of Optical Sciences welcomed visitors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering an engaging experience filled with hands-on STEM demonstrations led by Prof. Daewook Kim and dedicated volunteers. Guests were invited to explore the wonders of optics through a self-guided tour of the building’s curated exhibits, honoring the legacy of the museum’s namesake, the late Prof. Emeritus John E. Greivenkamp.

Researchers from the Computational 3D Imaging and Measurement (3DIM) Lab at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona have developed a novel method that significantly advances 3D imaging of specular surfaces. The approach integrates techniques known from high-precision optical 3D metrology and computer vision, effectively bridging the technology gap between both fields. With its broad potential impact, the novel solution could benefit applications ranging from industrial inspection and medical imaging to virtual reality and cultural heritage preservation.

Under the direction of Hillary Mathis, lab manager, the Wyant College of Optical Sciences teaching lab spaces have undergone a significant refresh and expansion, a great opportunity for enhancing hands-on learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. Previously, some graduate lab classes had to share space, but now they each have their own dedicated rooms, ensuring greater accessibility and flexibility for students and instructors. In total, our teaching labs now include three undergraduate labs, one senior design lab, one instrumentation lab, and four graduate labs. We look forward to seeing students, teaching staff and faculty make full use of these upgraded spaces! Read more about the updates!

In celebration of Black History Month (Feb. 1 - Mar. 1), we highlight a few of the great Black Optical Scientists and Engineers who have helped shape history. Each of these inspiring innovators were shared over the course of the month on the college's social media pages.

Wyant College's 2025-2026 academic year departmental scholarships are now available for application.  The application deadline for all departmental scholarships is March 30, 2025, at 11:59pm.  If you will be an active student in a OSC undergraduate or graduate program next academic year (25-26), you are encouraged to apply! Questions? Email: grad-funding@optics.arizona.edu

The future of the super camera is here—and it’s only getting sharper. At The Camera Lab, led by David Brady, J.W. and H.M. Goodman Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences and professor of optical sciences, researchers are developing super cameras that push beyond conventional imaging limits. This revolution is moving toward terapixel per second capture rates. In 2012, Brady led the team that developed the world’s first gigapixel camera as principal investigator on the DARPA AWARE program. Today, he's taking the work to the next level, building a display that can keep up.

Inventing is core to the university's commitment to pursuing solutions to grand challenges. The National Academy of Inventors has named Professor Jennifer Barton, Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the BIO5 Institute; and Associate Professor Euan McLeod as Senior Members of its newest cohort of 162 honorees from across the nation.

We are excited to welcome Ember Deitz Goldstein as the new Director of Development at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences! Ember brings a wealth of experience in university fundraising, having held leadership roles at Oberlin College, Boston University, and Harvard, as well as Columbia University, where she also earned her MBA. Read more about her background and experience. Please join us in welcoming Ember to the Wyant College of Optical Sciences! Feel free to reach out and introduce yourself—Ember looks forward to connecting with the college community!  Find Ember in Meinel 721 or reach her at embergoldstein@arizona.edu or 520-626-8754.