Last month I wrote about Optica’s core value of Inclusivity, and this month I want to focus on another of our core values—Impact.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion during the MKS Global Technology Conference, the biannual technical meeting at the organization I work for. The chosen topic—Powering the Next Wave of Environmental Innovations—was both timely and inspiring. I spoke about how photonics is helping to produce clean water, improve agricultural efficiency and monitor methane emissions. I then detailed how lasers are being used to make and improve the manufacture of solar cells, batteries and LEDs, all technologies that are making a direct impact on the environment and thus changing our world for the better.
Another way to illustrate impact is via the Awards and Medals that Optica bestows each year. All the 2025 honorees have made an indelible impact on our community—and celebrating their success is not only a pleasure, but a powerful way to reinforce the influence and reach of our collective work. At the recent Optical Fiber Communications Conference (OFC), I had the honor of presenting the C.E.K. Mees Medal to Columbia University’s Keren Bergman. The medal, which is awarded for “an original use of optics across multiple fields,” embodies Optica’s commitment to two of our core values—Innovation and Impact.
We all have the power to make meaningful impact—locally, personally and professionally.
In preparation for the OFC Awards ceremony, I read the history behind the Medal. As described in the article I discovered in the January 2006 issue of Optics & Photonics News, Mees was the first head of the Kodak Research Labs in the early part of the 20th century and was instrumental in the founding of the Optical Society in Rochester in 1916. A little-known fact is that our first president was one of Mees’ employees. I found this a wonderful connection between the impact of the past and the impact of today.
Yet another way to reflect impact has to do with the recognition of critical technologies by international bodies like UNESCO. As we continue to celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, we have included an article in this issue by writer Susan Curtis, entitled, “Photons Light the Way to Useful Quantum Computing.” In it, she explores how recent innovations in integrated systems and commercially available processors are positioning photonics at the forefront of quantum computing. I invite you to join me at the upcoming Quantum 2.0 meeting, which will be held during 1–5 June in San Francisco, USA.
As a community, we have the opportunity to advance technologies that improve health care, increase the efficiency of energy generation, combat the climate crisis and enhance our quality of life in myriad ways. In a world where making a global impact may sometimes feel daunting, we all have the power to make personal, meaningful impact—locally, personally and professionally.
—Jim Kafka,
Optica President