PIERRE-ALEXANDRE BLANCHE SELECTED AS 2021 OPTIMAX RESEARCH GRANT WINNER

Congratulations to Dr. Pierre-Alexandre Blanche on his selection as the 2021 Optimax Research Grant Winner. This components grant will support Dr. Blanche’s research work, allowing the purchase of useful and precise optics to be used in his lab. Specifically, Dr. Blanche will use it to obtain a custom waveguide to demonstrate a curved HUD/AR system.

Currently, the lab is using a plastic sheet, so the addition of this new technology will elevate the level of optical quality the lab can achieve. It will allow the lab to create a HUD/AR system that integrates seamlessly in a windshield or even sunglasses. Dr. Blanche has a current paper pending publication demonstrating this method as well as a patent application on the new technology through Tech Launch Arizona. Dr. Blanche plans to present his work at upcoming OSA and SPIE conferences.

Optimax is a long-standing member of the College of Optical Sciences Industrial Affiliates program as a Leadership Partner member. Optimax has also offered the College a $10,000 Optics Grant for Research for several years now. This grant awards a fortunate OSC Faculty research team with a $10,000 monetary credit when ordering custom-made optical components created by Optimax for the research project in their winning proposal. Congratulations, Dr. Blanche!