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OSA to host energy meetings in Tucson covering optics' role in alternative energy

Events will highlight optics and photonics in solar energy and discuss optical sensors and the environment

WASHINGTON, June 4 – The Optical Society (OSA) today announced that it will host two energy meetings in Tucson: The Imaging and Applied Optics Congress, June 7-8, at the Westin La Paloma, and the Optical Interference Coatings Topical Meeting, June 6-11, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Both events will include a focus on technical breakthroughs in optics and photonics affecting the areas of alternative energy and the environment.

The Imaging and Applied Optics Congress (http://www.osa.org/Meetings/optics_and_photonics_congresses/Imaging_Congress/Default.aspx) includes two topical meetings on energy and the environment:

• Optics for Solar Energy (SOLAR) – The goal of this meeting is to bring together the researchers, engineers, and managers developing and using optics for the generation of solar energy to encourage active discussion. All forms of solar energy generation, transmission, and storage—from thermal to photovoltaic to novel methods—will be covered in this forum. The program will highlight the solar energy field through keynote and invited speakers spanning the technology, modeling, public policy, and financial areas.

  http://www.osa.org/meetings/topical_meetings/solar/default.aspx

• Optical Remote Sensing of the Environment (ORS) -- ORS is a conference focused on sensing, algorithms and phenomena, and applications. Topics will address areas where optical sensors are used to characterize the environment, such as the coastal ocean, forestry, agriculture, or environmental monitoring and natural resource monitoring and management.

  http://www.osa.org/meetings/topical_meetings/ORS/default.aspx

The Congress also features Optics in Energy: A Live Interactive Short Course, covering the expanding roles of optics and photonics in the generation and conservation of solar energy. Intended for researchers, engineers, students and others looking to enhance their knowledge of the solar and optics fields, lectures will include background tutorials, updates on recent R&D results, and the status of manufacturing and deployments in the areas of silicon and thin-film photovoltaics, solar concentrators and more. The course takes place Monday, June 7 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the University of Arizona Optical Sciences Center.

http://www.osa.org/Meetings/topical_meetings/SOLAR/short_course.aspx

Highlights of the Optical Interference Coatings Topical Meeting (http://www.osa.org/meetings/topical_meetings/oic/default.aspx) include:

• Evening Session Keynote Speaker: Edward Moses, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  Topic: LIFE: A Path to Laser Fusion Energy
  Monday, June 7, 5 – 6:30 p.m.

  An internationally recognized laser and optical science expert, Moses is the director for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) and the principal associate director for the NIF and Photon Science organization at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif. He is responsible for completing construction and activation of NIF, the world's largest and most energetic laser system. Moses will discuss a laser fusion-based energy concept that builds on NIF ignition, known as LIFE (Laser Inertial Fusion Engine), which is currently under development. LIFE is inherently safe and can provide a global carbon-free energy generation solution in the 21st century. The talk will discuss recent progress on NIF and the role of NIF in future energy security and frontier science.

• LaserFest Evening Session Keynote Speaker: Robert Byer, Stanford University
  Topic: The Laser at 50: Gain Media, Resonators (Coatings), and Pumping Means
  Tuesday, June 8, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

  Held in conjunction with LaserFest, the science community's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first working laser, Robert Byer of Stanford University will discuss how advances in laser sources could not have happened without corresponding advances in optical coatings. The talk will review, from a laser point of view, the fortunes and misfortunes of optical coatings combined with lasers. Byer has conducted research and taught classes in lasers and nonlinear optics at Stanford University since 1969. He has made numerous contributions to laser science and technology including the demonstration of the first tunable visible parametric oscillator, the development of the Q-switched unstable resonator Nd:YAG laser, remote sensing using tunable infrared sources and precision spectroscopy using Coherent Anti Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS).

Additionally, on June 7, OSA President James C. Wyant, dean of the College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona, will honor Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) as OSA's 2010 Advocate of Optics. Giffords was chosen for her work on H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, legislation that seeks to improve solar technology research, development and demonstration programs. She is also being recognized for her work on the U.S. House of Representatives' Science and Technology Committee. Wyant will present the award at 9:30 a.m. in Room 307 of the Meinel Optical Science Building at the University of Arizona.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Reporters wishing to attend these events should contact Angela Stark, astark@osa.org or 202.416.1443, for press credentials.

Uniting more than 106,000 professionals from 134 countries, the Optical Society (OSA) brings together the global optics community through its programs and initiatives. Since 1916 OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing educational resources to the scientists, engineers and business leaders who work in the field by promoting the science of light and the advanced technologies made possible by optics and photonics. OSA publications, events, technical groups and programs foster optics knowledge and scientific collaboration among all those with an interest in optics and photonics. For more information, visit www.osa.org.

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