Professional Societies
OP-TEC collaborates with multiple optics and photonics-related professional and technical society partners throughout the nation.
These partners provide OP-TEC valuable support in many areas including, but not limited to:
- Assistance in the identification of optics and photonics-related employers
- Faculty development opportunities
- Student chapter information
- Local, regional and national professional meetings and conferences
- Education outreach and career awareness information and materials
- Technical and professional expertise
OP-TEC also works to provide mutual support to each of these partners by disseminating society information to OP-TEC contacts and partners, attending and supporting professional society events and meetings, distributing society educational outreach and career awareness materials and providing resources and support to collaborative projects.
Please see the list below of OP-TEC’s Professional Society partners. A brief description from each partner’s website has also been provided below. We encourage you to click on the website link or society logo to visit each partner’s website for more information on their organization, services and membership.
The Optical Society
The Optical Society’s (OSA) mission is to promote the generation, application and archiving of knowledge in optics and photonics and to disseminate this knowledge worldwide. The purposes of the Society are scientific, technical and educational. OSA’s commitment to excellence and long-term learning is the driving force behind all its initiatives.
Since 1916, OSA has been the world’s leading champion for optics and photonics, uniting and educating scientists, engineers, educators, technicians and business leaders worldwide to foster and promote technical and professional development. Through publications, events and services, the Optical Society is helping to advance the science of light by addressing the ongoing need for shared knowledge and innovation.
OSA was founded 100 years ago as The Optical Society of America and has evolved into a global enterprise serving a worldwide constituency. In recognition of its global reach and focus, since 2008 the Society has been known as OSA – The Optical Society.
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, was founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies.
Serving more than 264,000 constituents from approximately 166 countries, the not-for-profit society advances emerging technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career and professional growth.
SPIE annually organizes and sponsors approximately 25 major technical forums, exhibitions, and education programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. SPIE publishes the SPIE Digital Library, containing more than 450,000 research papers from the Proceedings of SPIE and the Society’s 10 scholarly journals with around 18,000 new papers added each year.
In 2016, SPIE provided $4 million in support of education and outreach programs.
Laser Institute of America (LIA)
Laser Institute of America (LIA), founded in 1968, is the professional society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. LIA cultivates innovation, ingenuity and inspiration to promote the continued growth and safe use of laser applications.
Recognized as the professional society for laser applications and safety, LIA serves industrial, educational, medical, research and government communities across the globe. Our members are comprised of laser researchers, manufacturers, integrators and end users—all working together to increase the use and safe application of laser technologies.
IEEE Photonics Society
The IEEE Photonics Society forms the hub of a vibrant technical community of more than 100,000 professionals dedicated to transforming breakthroughs in quantum physics into the devices, systems and products to revolutionize our daily lives. From ubiquitous and inexpensive global communications via fiber optics, to lasers for medical and other applications, to flat-screen displays, to photovoltaic devices for solar energy, to LEDs for energy-efficient illumination, there are myriad examples of the society’s impact on the world around us.
We organize, contribute to and participate in technical conferences, journals and other activities covering all aspects of photonics in order to share and disseminate our breakthroughs. We engage in photonics research, development, design and manufacturing, and are vital part of IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional association dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.
We provide our members with professional growth opportunities, publish journals, sponsor conferences and support local chapter and student activities around the world.
American Precision Optics Manufacturers Association (APOMA)
The American Precision Optics Manufacturers Association (APOMA) is committed to promoting and advancing opportunities for the precision optics industry. APOMA represents a broad constituency of precision optics manufacturers and the supporting industry, along with academic associates whose mutual interest is the advancement and expansion of optics manufacturing and technology.
If you would like more information about OP-TEC’s Professional Society partnerships, please contact us!
