In June, the SPIE Fellow stepped down from his leadership role after 19 years as SPIE CEO
SPIE President Maryellen Giger presents Eugene Arthurs with the SPIE 2018 President's Award
BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA and CARDIFF, UK - SPIE Fellow and former CEO Eugene Arthurs was honored with the 2018 SPIE President's Award yesterday evening at SPIE Optics + Photonics' Annual Award Banquet. He received the award in recognition of his commitment to SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and for his outstanding leadership in the field of optics and photonics, especially as it contributed to the growth and pervasiveness of SPIE's profile across the globe.
"During his tenure as CEO, Eugene successfully led SPIE as it advanced emerging technologies of optics and photonics through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career, and professional growth," said 2018 SPIE President Maryellen Giger. "His dedication and visionary role within SPIE touched multiple growth areas. Consistently throughout the field of optics and photonics, Eugene remained a soft-spoken leader - a gentleman and a scholar to whom everyone listened."
Among Arthurs' many contributions to SPIE, Giger noted, are his efforts to integrate and increase cooperation between photonics sectors such as academia and industry; his efforts to increase public awareness of photonics through the International Year of Light, the National Photonics Initiative, and various health programs such as the BRAIN initiative and the Cancer Moonshot; and his role in expanding SPIE's philanthropic outreach and altruism from around $200,000 in scholarships and other support to approximately $4 million per year.
A native of Northern Ireland, Arthurs received his B.Sc. with honors in physics and his Ph.D. in applied physics from Queen's University, Belfast. He taught a Master's class in optoelectronics at Queen's, and conducted research at the University of London's Imperial College London.
Arthurs has been an SPIE member since 1972 and joined the staff as executive director in 1999. Although he officially retired as CEO in June, Arthurs says he intends to remain involved with the Society through analysis and advocacy.
"I have had the privilege of being part of SPIE for most of my life, and so been steeped in a community sharing a passion for using light in so many ways," said Arthurs. "My role has allowed me to speak to many different audiences across the world and I hope my deeply held passion for light has been the constant theme in my presentations."
The SPIE President's Award is presented annually to an individual who has rendered unique and meritorious service to the Society.
About SPIE
SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves nearly 264,000 constituents from approximately 166 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2017, SPIE provided more than $4 million in support of education and outreach programs. www.spie.org.
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