New Photonics Societies

Optical scientists in Poland and Hong Kong celebrated the transformation of former SPIE Chapters into independent professional societies earlier this year.

The new Photonics Society of Poland (PSP or Polskie Stowarzyszenie Fotoniczne) held an inauguration symposium in Warsaw in May, and SPIE members in Hong Kong launched the Hong Kong Optical Engineering Society (HKOES) in April.

SPIE has been transitioning its regional chapter program over the past few years, enabling the networks and activities established by the regional chapters to develop effective, locally based organizations.

Polish Members Celebrate in Warsaw

Many of the Polish organization's founders, including PSP President Tomasz R. Wolinski and Malgorzata Kujawinska, SPIE's 2005 President, were leaders in the SPIE Poland Regional Chapter, the first chapter that SPIE established in Europe.

"The relationship between SPIE and our friends and colleagues in Poland is not just about conferences, publishing, or leadership, but has many dimensions that extend beyond standard business interactions," said Eugene Arthurs, CEO of SPIE in congratulating the new society. "SPIE is proud of any role that it may have played in supporting optics and photonics in Poland."

Brian Culshaw, Tomasz Wolinski, Tina Kidger, and Emery Moore, at right, celebrated the launch of the new Photonics Society of Poland.

In addition to President Wolinski, PSP Board Members include:

• Leszek R. Jaroszewicz, Military University of Technology, Warsaw (Vice President: Membership and Industry)
• Andrzej Domanski, Warsaw University of Technology (Treasurer)
• Anna Cysewska-Sobusiak, Technical University of Poznan (Secretary)
• Zbigniew Jaroszewicz, Institute of Applied Optics, Warsaw (Conferences Coordinator)
• Bogdan Kosmowski, Technical University of Gdansk (Regional Liaison for North Poland)
• Aneta Michalkiewicz, Warsaw University of Technology (Student Chapters Coordinator)
• Tadeusz Pustelny, Silesian University of Technology (Regional Liaison for South Poland)
• Ryszard Romaniuk, Warsaw University of Technology (Photonics Letters Editor-in-Chief)
• Waclaw Urbanczyk, Technical University of Wroclaw (Optica Applicata Editor-in-Chief)

During an award ceremony, PSP honored several key persons from SPIE for promoting cooperation and collaboration including Arthurs; Emery Moore, 1990 SPIE President; Joseph Yaver, former executive director of SPIE; Brian Culshaw, 2007 SPIE President; and Mieczyslaw Szustakowski, professor at the Military University of Technology. Szustakowski, a member of the first Board of SPIE-PL in 1988, also received the 2008 Annual Maksymilian Pluta Award.

Cooperating organizations for the symposium included the Polish Committee of Optoelectronics (PKOpto), the Association of Polish Electrical Engineers (SEP), and the Optoelectronics Section, Committee of Electronics and Telecommunications (KEiT) of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN.)

In an interview with SPIE Professional magazine, Yaver reminisced about the challenges of organizing an SPIE Chapter in Poland in the 1980s, especially with tight government controls on travel and currency. "They have a great spirit of resilience," Yaver said of the improvised arrangements that were made by SPIE Chapter members to exchange research and permit travel to international conferences.

The SPIE Poland Chapter was launched in 1988, after several years of association between the local community and SPIE.

Hong Kong Society Launched

The New Hong Kong society also has strong ties to SPIE, with many of the HKOES founders having served as leaders in the SPIE Hong Kong Chapter.

The HKOES will focus on optics promotion in schools, establishing linkages between industry and education, and presenting optics seminars and training courses to foster professional development in optics, said Chi-Man Fok, chairman of the Board of Directors.

"SPIE has long been honored to enjoy the leadership and participation of members of the former Hong Kong Chapter of SPIE in our activities promoting optics and photonics throughout the region and the world," Arthurs said. 

Along with Fok, who is with Diffractive Optics Ltd./Aspheric Optics, the founding Board includes:

• Vice Chairman Jeremy Tsz-Kong Chang, Edmund Optics, China
• Honorary Secretary Derek Chi-Hang Louie, Hong Kong Productivity Council
• Honorary Treasurer, William Wai-Kit Wong, Kirin Optics Ltd.
• Executive Director Andrew Yuk-Sun Cheng, Ample Link International Holdings Ltd.
• Sidney Shiu-Hin Ho, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education
• Anthony J. P. Mannion, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education
• Chiu-Ngai (Ricky) Cheung, Chung Yat Optics Co., Ltd.