2024 Optical Sciences Winter School
The new year began with the 2024 Optical Sciences Winter School running from January 3 - 6 at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences. More than 45 undergraduates from across the country as well as approximately 20 optics professionals and faculty from other universities attended.
The first two days featured lectures by Wyant College faculty on the fundamentals and applications of optics in image science, optical physics, photonics, and optical engineering. Additionally, attending students participated in a Poster Session at Bear Down Gymnasium on Jan. 4. Sixteen posters were presented, 13 from participants outside the UArizona and 3 were UArizona students. Posters were judged and two winners were selected! Shriniketh Sreevatsan from UArizona was selected for his poster on “Deep Learning Optimization for Lens-Free Holographic Imaging and SARS-CoV-2 Biosensing." Additionally, Madison Sobol from Arizona State University was selected for her poster on “Ultrafast Dynamics of Copper Oxide Cluster for Atomically Precise Coatings.”
The final two days featured talks from external speakers as well as Wyant College of Optical Sciences alumni speaking on a panel about careers in optics. Highlights of the third and fourth days included three keynote talks. Keynote Speakers included Dr. Amy Mainzer on, "Finding and characterizing the asteroids and comets that get close to Earth;" Dr. Sabrina Nagel on, "Fusion ignition in the laboratory and the role of diagnostics at the National Ignition Facility;" and Dr. Marcia Rieke and Dr. George Rieke on, "JWST: a triumph of engineering for science."
Students majoring in a wide range of fields learned about opportunities throughout the country for graduate degrees and career paths in optics and photonics. Additionally, students had the opportunity to visit the Thorlabs Mobile Photonics Lab Experience Vehicle, and to tour the Mirror Lab. The Thorlabs Mobile Photonics Lab offers students a hands-on experience with photonics equipment used to measure, study, and harness the power of light. Overall, the winter school was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the many amazing opportunities offered by a career in optical sciences. Find the full 2024 Agenda here.
Optical Sciences Winter School is made possible by this year's sponsors: DeMund Foundation, Gretler Foundation, SPIE, Optica, State of Arizona Technology and Research Initiative Fund, and the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences.
