One of LaserFest’s
goals is to generate in today’s
students the
same sense of
excitement about
science and optics
as a career choice
that I experienced
in 1964.”
“
n my January column, I noted the launch of LaserFest, the 2010 year-long worldwide cele-
bration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first working laser. It is remarkable that
the laser has become such an integral part of our daily lives in a relatively short span of time, with
thousands of scientific, commercial, medical and military applications ranging from supermarket
scanners to sophisticated weapons systems.
I saw my first helium-neon laser in senior physics lab in 1964. It was being used to illuminate a
hologram made of a stapler. The 3-D image of the stapler I saw was so impressive that it convinced
me I wanted to study optics, and I quickly applied to graduate school at the Institute of Optics at
Rochester. A lot of people in my age group went into optics because of lasers and holography.
One of LaserFest’s goals is to generate in today’s students the same sense of excitement about
science and optics as a career choice that I experienced in 1964. Helping to achieve this goal is the
“Laser Days” program, which encourages our global network of local sections and student chapters to organize outreach events aimed at students at all levels and the general public. Sections and
chapters were able to apply for support to conduct events selected from among three activities:
I
c;“Hit the Target” teaches middle school or high school students about the science of lasers and
optics by having them predict where a laser will hit. This activity is based on content in the
OSA Hands-on-Optics kit.
c;“Laser Graffiti” participants create videos incorporating an instructional segment about the
science and technology of lasers and use laser graffiti, including the LaserFest logo, on the
walls of their universities. Videos will compete for You Tube votes or views.
c;“Laser Maze” creators will develop a maze or obstacle course that uses a music-integrated laser
system to project music via a series of beams. Participants must navigate the course without
breaking the beam.
I think this is a great way to tap into the creativity and enthusiasm of our student chapters.
I’m looking forward to seeing some exciting and innovative entries.
Another noteworthy LaserFest outreach activity is the development of science museum exhibits
designed to raise public awareness about the impact of lasers on our daily lives. Two museums in
California—the Exploratorium in San Francisco and the Tech Museum in San Jose—are currently planning exhibits.
The Exploratorium will offer a Hands-On Laser Demonstration explaining the basic properties of a half-milliwatt helium neon laser. I think partnering with this museum is particularly
appropriate because the Exploratorium was founded by a noted physicist and educator—Frank
Oppenheimer. LaserFest planners are working with Tech Museum staff on a laser exhibit and
other laser activities. If you are planning to attend CLEO 2010 in San Jose, I encourage you to
visit the museum. It is located very close to the convention center and conference hotels.
In this issue, be sure to read the feature on the role of lasers in communications (p. 28) and
the article on the field of optical manipulation, or laser tweezers (p. 20). The Light Touch column
(p. 14) gives a fun history of lasers in popular culture. Finally, the After Image is a picture of a
laser that was used as part of a student project (p. 56).
James C. Wyant
OSA President
4 | OPN Optics & Photonics News
www.osa-opn.org
