One of the most rewarding aspects of serving as President of the IEEE Photonics Society is the opportunity to work closely with colleagues, volunteers, and leaders from across our professional community. Whether through discussions with our Society’s leadership team, exchanges with other IEEE Societies, or meetings with researchers and editors, these interactions help us share experiences, address common challenges, and shape the future of our organization.
In August, I participated in the inaugural IEEE Societies and Councils (S/C) Congress, held in Glasgow, Scotland, in conjunction with IEEE Sections Congress 2026. The event brought together leaders from IEEE’s technical Societies and Councils to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges, and explore ways to work more closely together. It also aimed to strengthen relationships between IEEE’s technical and geographic communities, an important step toward a more integrated and effective organization.
I was pleased to be joined by several colleagues from the IEEE Photonics Society, including: Aref Chowdhury, our Vice President for Professional and Technical Development; Winnie Ye, elected member of our Board of Governors and Global Chair of IEEE Women in Engineering; Mike McKee, Chair of our Education Committee; and Lauren Mecum-Smith, Senior Manager of Strategic Programs. Also attending was Dalma Novak, a former President of our Society and Past IEEE Vice President of Technical Activities, who had been among the driving forces behind the creation of the Congress during her term in 2025. Having several members of our leadership involved made the event particularly valuable, allowing us to exchange perspectives and reflect together on ideas that could benefit our Society.
The program covered a broad range of topics, including membership engagement, volunteer development, conferences, publications, and governance. I had the pleasure of contributing to a session on industry engagement, presenting some of the initiatives developed by the IEEE Photonics Society to strengthen relationships with industry through our conferences and other activities.
I particularly appreciated the interactive breakout sessions on the final day. Rather than following a traditional presentation format, participants were invited to share their perspectives on common challenges and priorities, collectively identify the most significant issues, and bring their conclusions to a final joint discussion. This approach encouraged active participation and provided valuable insights into the experiences of other Societies.
Although IEEE Societies operate in different technical fields, many of the challenges they face are remarkably similar. The Congress reinforced my belief that sharing experiences and working more closely together, while maintaining each Society’s distinctive identity, can help us better serve our members and increase the visibility and impact of photonics.
In September, I attended the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC 2026) in Málaga, Spain. Beyond its technical program, the conference provided a welcome occasion to meet with several members of our Society’s leadership, including Pat Iannone, Vice President for Publications; Christina Lim, Vice President for Conferences; and Jörg-Peter Elbers, our Secretary-Treasurer. Our conversations allowed us to exchange views on ongoing Society activities, discuss current priorities, and address matters related to our publications, conferences, and broader initiatives. These informal, face-to-face discussions are an important complement to our regular Board-of-Governors meetings and help strengthen the working relationships within our leadership team.
During ECOC, I also joined the annual in-person meeting of the Journal of Lightwave Technology (JLT) Editorial Board. Having served as JLT Editor-in-Chief from 2019 to 2024, the meeting was particularly meaningful to me. It was a pleasure to reconnect with former collaborators and friends, and to continue exchanging ideas with colleagues with whom I had worked closely for many years.
JLT, jointly sponsored by seven IEEE Societies and Optica, is one of the leading journals in optical communications and lightwave technologies. The meeting focused on developments in scientific publishing, with particular attention to tools and procedures supporting publication quality and research integrity. Among the topics discussed were new ScholarOne features for reference checking and identifying standard AI-generated phrases, complementing traditional plagiarism checks.
The growing use of artificial intelligence in scientific writing presents both opportunities and challenges. While AI-based tools can support the editorial process, maintaining the quality and credibility of scientific publications continues to depend on the expertise and judgment of editors and reviewers, as well as the commitment of authors to responsible research practices.
These discussions are particularly relevant to our Society, as our journals represent one of our most important contributions to the photonics community. Preserving their scientific rigor and reputation, while adapting to new technologies and publishing practices, remains an essential priority.
Looking Ahead to IPC 2026
I am particularly excited about the upcoming IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC 2026), our Society’s flagship conference, which will take place in Denver, Colorado, on November 8–12. With a technical program covering a broad range of photonics research and applications, IPC provides an ideal setting to exchange ideas, explore emerging technologies, and connect with colleagues from around the world. I look forward to meeting many of you there!
Warm regards,
Gabriella Bosco
President (2026–2027)
IEEE Photonics Society
Featured Photo Caption: The IEEE Photonics Society was well represented at the IEEE Sections Congress (S/C Congress) by (left to right) Mike McKee, Chair of the Society’s Education Committee; Gabriella Bosco, Society President; Winnie Ye, elected member of the Society’s Board of Governors and Global Chair of IEEE Women in Engineering; and Aref Chowdhury, Vice President for Professional and Technical Development.
