Student Chapter Leadership Workshop

The Optics + Photonics 2009 Student Chapter Leadership Workshop was the spot to meet and network with peers in optics from around the world!

The 8^th annual two-day workshop began early Saturday morning when 130 students from around the world gathered to share experiences and ideas. The morning was lively as students were quickly divided into groups for a few short games designed to enhance interactions and relieve anxieties.

Rachel Won, Editor of Nature Photonics, joined SPIE President María Yzuel and other presenters in sharing insights and information about networking, project management, and leadership skills with the 130 student attendees. Won talked about her career path from student to professional, stressing the assistance provided by SPIE along the way. Yzuel thanked the students for their dedication to optics and photonics, and encouraged them to continue their commitment by applying their energy and knowledge to solving the world’s problems in the future.

A panel of experts from academia, industry, and government led a discussion on career choices Sunday morning, and speakers in four breakout sessions coached students in publishing, communication, and conference organization.Well over 100 students packed the Marriott Marina Ballroom for the keynote luncheon on Sunday. SPIE CEO Eugene Arthurs presented a well-received talk titled "Musings on the Future." Arthurs spoke about differing career paths down which the students' education could lead them, and urged them to not be "type-cast," and to ruminate on what really drives their passions. "The last century was the century of electronics," Arthurs said, "but the 21st Century belongs to photons."

Presentations from the workshop are available for download below. See photos from the workshop and keep up-to-date on future student events by following our Facebook page and Twitter feed.