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Highlights from Recent Photonics Events

In March, I had the honor of attending and delivering the opening address at the Asia Photonics Expo (APE) in Singapore, representing the IEEE Photonics Society as President. This landmark event marked the first major photonics exhibition in Singapore, featuring 350 companies and spanning 15,000 square meters. With 24 organized events and 4,478 delegates from over 60 countries, APE was a testament to the global momentum in photonic science and technology. As we gathered in Singapore—a city symbolic of progress and interconnectedness—we aimed to advance the global photonics community. This expo was not just a technological showcase but a hub for collaboration and a catalyst for innovation.  Photonics, the science of generating and harnessing light, has profoundly transformed our world. It underpins modern communications, offers insights into the cosmos, and drives the future of advanced manufacturing. Beyond being a field of study, photonics is a dynamic force shaping our collective future. We envision a future where photonics plays an even more pivotal role, enhancing human connectivity and our interaction with the environment.

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Opening Address – Asia Photonics Expo (APE) @ Singapore
OFC open

Later in March, I also attended the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exhibition (OFC) in San Diego. OFC 2024 experienced a remarkable 40% growth, attracting over 15,000 attendees from more than 70 countries. This event remains the premier global conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals. It draws a diverse array of participants, including industry leaders, researchers, and professionals from various sectors.  During OFC, I participated in the presentation of society awards and the recognition of newly elected Fellows. This exclusive event celebrated the remarkable achievements in photonics, particularly in optical-fiber technology. The 2024 Photonics Award was presented to Kim B. Roberts for his leadership in the development of digital coherent signal processing for optical fiber transmission systems. The 2024 John Tyndall Award was given to David Richardson for his pioneering contributions to optical fibers and their applications in fiber lasers and optical communications.

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Photonics Award: Perry Shum, Kim Roberts and Thomas Coughlin
Tyndal
John Tyndall Award: Michal Lipson, Aleksandra Boskovic, Thomas Coughlin, David Richardson and Perry Shum

The IEEE Fellow Award is a prestigious honor granted to IEEE members with extraordinary accomplishments in IEEE-designated fields. The number of IEEE Senior Members elevated to Fellow each year is limited to 0.1% of the total IEEE voting membership. The class of 2024 comprises 323 Fellows. I was pleased to recognize the newly elevated IEEE Fellows affiliated with the Photonics Society on March 26, 2024, during OFC.

Fellows
IEEE Fellow Award: Perry Shum, Koji Yamada. Barry Bing-Ruey Wu, Volker Sorger and Gordon Keeler

Notably, the IEEE Fellow Award nomination deadline has been moved to February 7th for 2024, a change from the traditional March 1st deadline. This adjustment aims to streamline the nomination process and ensure timely evaluations. Additionally, there have been updates to the criteria for contributions to standards. IEEE now places greater emphasis on the impact of nominees’ work on industry standards and the practical applications of these standards. This highlights the importance of contributions that not only advance technology but also influence industry practices and regulatory frameworks.

Warm regards,

Perry Sig

Perry Shum, Ph.D.

President (2024-2025)

IEEE Photonics Society

shum@ieee.org