NAE Regional Meeting Sheds Light on Innovations in High-Contrast, High-Resolution Imaging Technologies

On March 30 the NAE held its first regional meeting since the onset of the covid-19 pandemic: a symposium on “Innovations in High-Contrast, High-Resolution Imaging,” hosted by the University of Arizona (UA) James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences (OSC). More than 90 students and professional engineers attended the day’s event, either online or in-person. 

The event kicked off with a members-only meeting attended by numerous NAE members and staff including a visit by James Wyant. Dr. Wyant is an entrepreneur and pioneer in the optics field and his work has had international impact in the advancement of optics. Among his many achievements both in industry and academia, he was the founding dean of the College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona. In April of 2019, the College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona was renamed the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences in his honor.

Attending NAE members were also invited to a personal tour of the UA’s Richard F. Caris Mirror Laboratory.

“Seeing first-hand the revolutionary honeycomb structure, resulting in the groundbreaking mirror castings for a new generation of optical telescopes including the Giant Magellan Telescope was awe inspiring,” said NAE President John Anderson. “I highly encourage everyone to visit the Mirror Lab website for more information on this great endeavor.”

The symposium, which was open to the public, featured eight speakers and was divided into two specialized sessions: the first on novel imaging modalities and technologies in life sciences; and the second on imaging advances in astronomy, with a focus on exoplanet science and discovery.

Special thanks goes out to the event organizers at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, and to Thomas L. Koch, Dean, UA College of Optical Science for hosting the event in the Kuiper Building.

Photo Highlights

Click on the photos below to read the full photo caption. Photos courtesy of Amee Hennig, Manager, Media Content, Wyant College of Optical Sciences