Why Light? Anne-Sophie Poulin-Girard, SPIE Education Committee Chair Answers

Anne-Sophie Poulin-Girard is chair of the SPIE Education Committee, which monitors the educational activities of the Society and the quality of educational programs conducted in the name of the Society. Anne-Sophie, an Early Career Professional Member of SPIE is also the next community member to answer our 'Why Light?' series. The series is leading up to the first International Day of Light, and asks SPIE Members to explain why they feel light is so important.

The inaugural International Day of Light – IDL – will take place 16 May 2018. IDL is a global initiative that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light. This day recognizes light and the vital role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development.

On 16 May, join SPIE and communities worldwide by participating in activities that illustrate how the science and art of light improves all our lives. For more information and to plan your own event, visit spie.org/IDL.

Meet SPIE Member Anne-Sophie Poulin-Girard,
Chair, SPIE Education Committee
Research Associate, Université Laval

What about light inspires you?

Light unveils the beauty of our environment, all the colors, shapes, patterns, and textures. I can only imagine how it would be to naturally see beyond the visible spectrum. But light is more than that, it is also incredibly useful in a lot of everyday technologies.

How can light help overcome a current global challenge?

Light, through telecommunications and photonics technologies, can give access to a quality education for the common good. This will lead to reduced inequalities, more justice, healthy economic growth, and innovation in health, energy, and environment.

What do you do to share your passion for light?

Many things!

Light is everywhere, from the wonders of the stars to the technologies inside your smartphone. There are so many occasions around us to share our passion. It is just a matter of seizing the opportunities.

Comments

An International Inspiration: Attending the International Day of Light 2019 Celebration in Trieste

John Dudley and Perla Viera in Trieste Perla Marlene Viera González, an SPIE Early Career Professional Member working at the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, represented the SPIE Student and ECP Membership at the International Day of Light 2019 celebration in Trieste, 16 May. She shares with this community her experiences at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and the impact of taking part in this annual day of recognizing light. The International Day of Light brings together culture and science. — SPIE John Dudley, Steering Committee Chair of IDL This phrase was part of the message given by John Dudley during the introduction to the International Day of Light 2019 at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy. And it reflects the importance of bringing together the science, technology, culture, and art that involves light in this emblematic celebration. This year, the IDL celebration was about “Illuminating Ed...

Optics Does That? With Dr. Ashleigh Haruda, Zooarchaeologist.

Dr. Ashleigh Haruda is a zooarchaeologist. Dr. Ashleigh Haruda She examines animal bones found at archaeological sites to investigate the relationship between animals and ancient human societies. These bones reveal information about ancient societies including diet, trade, migration, and market forces. For her doctoral research, she studied pastoralists living in the Central Asian steppe in the Late and Final Bronze Age (1500-800 B.C.E.). These were people who did not practice agriculture, but lived off of their animals, including sheep. “Primarily these people are experiencing their world and their landscape through their animals,” said Haruda. “So, if they fail to move their animals in the right way, or they fail to understand how the weather is going to be that year, they could all die because there was no safety net for them.” By measuring the bones of sheep found in the steppe from the Final Bronze Age, she was able to determine that these pastoralists did not migrate exte...

#FacesofPhotonics: Optimax Director of Technology and Strategy, Jessica DeGroote Nelson

PITCH PERFECT: Optics expert Jessica DeGroote Nelson SPIE Senior Member Jessica DeGroote Nelson works as the director of technology and strategy at Optimax Systems in Ontario, New York. She also teaches as an adjunct assistant professor at The Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester (UR), and is a Conference Chair for SPIE Optifab 2019. Nelson also teaches Optical Materials, Fabrication, and Testing for the Optical Engineer at SPIE conferences. This course is geared toward optical engineers who are hoping to learn the basics about how optics are made, and ways in which to help reduce the cost of the optics they are designing. It is also offered online. "Optical tolerancing and the cost to fabricate an optic can be a point of tension or confusion between optical designers and optical fabricators," Nelson says. "I teach this course to help give optical designers who are new to the field a few tools in their toolbelt as they navigate toler...

Photonics for a Better World

Search This Blog