Planting the interest in STEM subjects
21 March 2019
A good mentor is key to increasing appreciation for photonics among school pupils, says Daniela Marin, an engineering student who recently held a workshop for young pupils
women in optics
Collaborating to advance biophotonics
31 January 2019
Professor Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, chair of the recent Bios Clinical Technologies and Systems track at Photonics West, discusses her work translating medical technology and encouraging inclusion in photonics
Reasons young women need your mentorship
27 November 2018
Liz Gerrish gives her perspective on why having a mentor is crucial for women beginning careers in photonics
Nobel Prize in Physics awarded for laser research
3 October 2018
The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to three scientists for two groundbreaking discoveries in the field of laser physics: The development of optical tweezers and the invention of chirped pulse amplification
Four reasons teams fail to innovate
30 July 2018
In a follow-up to her piece in our last issue, Liz Gerrish, technical programme manager and senior optical engineer at Wilcox Industries, provides further leadership perspective from being a woman in STEM
Women in Photonics workshop
The workshop aims to connect excellent female scientists at the beginning of their career with experts in photonics holding leading positions at research institutions and companies. The event addresses young female postdocs in the field of (bio)photonics, who want to present their own research work and build up new networks. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange with experienced scientists from academia and industry and jointly develop strategies for a successful professional career.
Finding common ground on gender issues in optics and photonics
8 December 2017
Optical research engineer, Katie Schwertz, discusses the need for mutual understanding and empathy within the photonics community in order to move towards gender equity
Job satisfaction high in photonics but fair pay an issue, SPIE research finds
7 April 2017
Differences of opinion still exist when it comes to fair pay and promotion in optics and photonics fields, but job satisfaction remains high overall, according to the 2017 SPIE Optics and Photonics Global Salary Report.
The report, the seventh compiled annually by SPIE, is the largest international study of the photonics industry.
The underrepresentation of women in STEM: Do stereotypes play a role?
11 May 2016
SPIE figures reveal that just 20 per cent of engineering degrees in the US are awarded to women, and 40 per cent of those women end up leaving the field. Christina Willis, laser scientist at Fibertek, gives her opinion on how stereotypes contribute to these statistics
Gender equality in photonics?
9 March 2015
In a traditionally male-dominated industry, Jessica Rowbury looks at the representation of women in the field of optics and photonics
