The organizers of LaserFest--the celebration in 2010 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first working laser--announced today that the IEEE Photonics Society (Piscataway, NJ) will be participating as a founding partner of the initiative. Founding partners, including the American Physical Society (APS), the Optical Society (OSA), SPIE and now the IEEE Photonics Society are organizations whose missions include the support of laser science and technologies. Each has made a commitment to invest a minimum of $100,000 in the celebration.
"LaserFest and its founding partners are committed to providing meaningful events and activities to honor laser pioneers and researchers, and inspire the next generation of scientists," said Anthony Siegman of the LaserFest Technical Advisory Committee. "The addition of the IEEE Photonics Society as a founding partner strengthens and broadens the reach of LaserFest messaging, programming, and services. LaserFest will benefit greatly from their participation."
All that has come from the laser
A science community collaboration, LaserFest will recognize and honor the accomplishments of the pioneers who made possible the discovery, development, and application of the laser, as well as inform students, educators, legislators, funding agencies and the general public about the impact of the laser and the importance of scientific and technological innovation. Educational outreach will focus on raising awareness of today's laser technologies and tomorrow's possibilities.
Multiple organizations have already signed up in support of LaserFest. In addition to founding partners, levels of support include sponsors, partners, media partners (including Laser Focus World), participants, and patrons. The National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy signed on as sponsors earlier this year, each contributing $150,000. Partners, or those organizations that promote and support LaserFest through self-hosted programs and initiatives, currently number more than 35. More information about supporting LaserFest can be found at http://www.laserfest.org. For info on the IEEE Photonics Society, see http://www.PhotonicsSociety.org.
