IEEE Photonics Sponsors Education and Training in Optics and Photonics Conference May 15-18

COCOA BEACH, Fla., May 10, 2023 (Newswire.com) - ETOP 2023, Education and Training in Optics and Photonics, will hold its biannual conference in Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA, on May 15-18, 2023. The importance of the science of light (optics), study of the generation, detection and manipulation of light (photonics), and the power of quantum must not be underestimated. Hence the charge to find new ways of preparing the next generation of students in the science of light, and keeping practitioners current.

"Now more than ever there is a tremendous need for educators to come together to face the challenges of teaching in the 21st Century, and ETOP is such a collaborative environment," stated Mike McKee, ETOP Co-Chair and Associate Director, Academic Support Services, CREOL UCF. "We have participants from around the world, of multiple cultures, backgrounds, genders, and ethnicities who are all passionate about teaching optics and photonics. No matter who you are, you will find a sense of belonging at ETOP!"

Through presentations, panels, workshops and exhibits, the intent of the conference is to inform professors, students, teachers and professional trainers how to teach optics and photonics for the future. On May 16, the International Day of Light, the conference's activities will include an Optics Bus (Seminole County's Physics Lab on Wheels), a Python Jeep and fiber optic activities on the beach.

Physics, Earth Science and Chemistry teachers across Florida have also been provided Free Space Optical Communication Kits in partnership with ETOP and the International Day of Light's "Possible through light" campaign, led by the conference's organizing sponsors, the IEEE Photonics Society, Optica and SPIE. Secondary school students will assemble the kits in order to understand the telecommunications and computer networking concept of wirelessly transmitting data through light propagation. The teachers will capture the excitement on social media, using the hashtags: #LightDay2023 and #ETOP2023

The technical program offers a mix of workshops and presentations. The topics of the conference are practical: "Quantum optics experiments in undergraduate labs", "How to prepare your STEM PhDs for private sector careers", "Biophotonics For All: Light transport through tissue". Every topic helps prepare a workforce for advanced manufacturing, telecommunications/information technology, defense/national security, energy conservation through silicon photonics, and advanced medicine.

The future STEM workforce needs to be familiarized with quantum concepts and gain hands-on experience in the instrumentation widely used in emerging technological areas (e.g., nanotechnology/biomedicine). ETOP's Symposium: "How to Teach 'Quantum' in the Age of the Second Quantum Revolution", will cover this and more.

As the ETOP 2023 Host, College of Optics and Photonics, CREOL at the University of Central Florida and the Valencia College Optics Program, has arranged a tour complete with lunch on the first day of the conference. These higher education facilities are located in Orlando, a mere 45 minutes from the conference site, the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront.

About IEEE Photonics Society

The IEEE Photonics Society is the professional home for a global network of engineers, scientists, and allied professionals who represent the laser, optoelectronics, and photonics community. As a Technical Society of the IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, the IEEE Photonics Society inspires community through highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. ieeephotonics.org.