Optics, industry and discovery converge at Arizona Photonics Days
Arizona Photonics Days convened over 150 researchers, government representatives, community leaders and industry professionals working across the optics and photonics ecosystem.
Linda Bixby, Ph.D., chief research partnerships officer for the University of Arizona, spoke about the power of convergence to turn research into real-world solutions at Arizona Photonics Days
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
Several University of Arizona faculty members presented their research at Arizona Photonics Days, underscoring Arizona’s role as an important center for photonics research and innovation. The three-day industry conference, held January 14-16 in Tucson, Arizona, was presented by Optics Valley and the Arizona Technology Council. More than 150 researchers, government representatives, community leaders and industry professionals working across the optics and photonics ecosystem traveled to Tucson from locations across the United States and around the world, including Germany, Taiwan, Quebec, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Held at the Grand Challenges Research Building on the U of A campus, Arizona Photonics Days featured technology presentations, company spotlights and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration between academia, industry and government.
The conference featured technical sessions on biomedical technology, photonic integrated circuits and sensors, quantum technology, laser technology and astronomy.
“Conferences like Arizona Photonics Days reinforce the power of convergence – the idea that when disciplines, institutions and industries come together, transformative solutions follow,” said Linda Bixby, Ph.D., chief research partnerships officer for the U of A. “We are committed to advancing strategic initiatives that address global challenges, including national security in space, fusion energy, AI-driven health innovation, sustainable mining and critical minerals, and environmental systems, arid lands agriculture and water. Optics and photonics are foundational technologies that support progress across all these areas.”
Daniel Soh, associate professor at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, chaired a session on advances in quantum technology at Arizona Photonics Days.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
The U of A played a prominent role in the program, which included the Office of Research and Partnerships as a sponsor. U of A faculty chaired four of the six sessions and delivered 12 of the 28 technical presentations. Students also participated, gaining exposure to emerging technologies and applications ranging from quantum systems and laser technologies to medical photonics and advanced sensing. Additional U of A units, programs and colleges that sponsored and participated in the conference included the BIO5 Institute, College of Engineering, James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, New Frontiers of Sound, Arizona Space Institute and Tech Launch Arizona.
U of A faculty members also led tours of leading research facilities, including the Applied Research Building, Nano Fabrication Center and Steward Observatory’s Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab, which support the development of some of the world’s most advanced optical systems.
Arizona Photonics Days serves “as a microcosm of the global photonics industry,” said Katie Schwertz, Optics Valley chair and senior manager of optical assemblies and technology for Edmund Optics. “Light-based technologies underpin virtually every aspect of modern society and global markets, including telecommunications, health care, clean energy and defense.”