Optics celebrates 75 years

he University's Institute of Optics kicked off a week-long celebration during Meliora Weekend marking its 75th anniversary. Highlights included the groundbreaking of a new building to be shared by optics and biomedical engineering, the annual meeting of the Optical Society of America (OSA) with an address by U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, an exhibition on the life of one of the Institute's founders, and the release of a book detailing the Institute's 75 years.

"This is an exciting time for us because we can look back at where the last 75 years have brought us while laying the groundwork for some of the Institute's most exciting years to come," says Director Wayne Knox. "We're especially honored the optics community, as well as Senator Clinton, have turned out to recognize what a powerful force this Institute has been in the world."

Founded in 1929 as the nation's first program of higher education in the field of optics, the Institute has granted more than half of the optics bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the nation. The study of light, optics spans disciplines at the University such as biology, physics, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, and medicine.

To propel the Institute into the next 75 years, Knox is overseeing the development of a new 100,000-square-foot building that will house scientists studying both optics and biomedical engineering, with plenty of opportunities for collaboration. The $30 million River Campus facility will include a new technology transfer program, called the Center for Institute Ventures, that will help produce local high-tech, spin-off companies.

Clinton paid a visit to Rochester in celebration of the groundbreaking and anniversary, addressing the Optical Society of America October 11. The OSA held its annual meeting at the Rochester Convention Center from October 10 to 14 in honor of the Institute.

Ongoing tributes include an exhibition at Rush Rhees Library that examines the life of Rudolf and Hilda Kingslake, both key figures in the Institute's history. Rudolf Kingslake was one of two founding faculty members in 1929 and a noted lens designer with Eastman Kodak Co. His wife also was an accomplished scientist and historian of the Institute. The exhibit includes photographs, writings, and other materials gleaned from the Kingslake Archive, a meticulously kept record of the couple's lives acquired by the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.

Finally, the Institute is releasing A Jewel in the Crown, a book dedicated to the Kingslakes. Edited by Carlos Stroud Jr., professor of optics and director of the Center for Quantum Information at the University, the book chronicles the Institute's history through 75 essays detailing pivotal people and research as well as giving an impression of what working and learning at the Institute was like throughout the years. The final essay, written by Knox, offers an outlook for the Institute's future.

Maintained by University Public Relations
Please send your comments and suggestions to:
Public Relations.