After the COVID-19 pandemic forced SPIE’s Photonics West and Laser Focus World’s annual Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar (LPMS) into partaking in purely virtual models of operation for one year, both events were back to in-person status for 2022. It was a welcome occurrence.
Of course, neither was exactly “business as usual,” but that is okay. Perhaps, more than okay.
At Photonics West, the number of exhibitors and visitors was noticeably down from previous years. A few of the biggest players and many smaller companies elected to skip. However, the quality of conversations was unparalleled. Those in attendance were serious about bringing their businesses to the next level. I see that as a win.
The pandemic also had its fingerprints on LPMS. Although we were able to go back in-person, the structure of the event was still hybrid in every way. We had sessions with presenters on the stage, a few prerecorded sessions, a panel with people on stage and people participating via Zoom, and we also had a panel where everyone was on Zoom.
Fortunately, even with all the possible ways that something could go wrong, and disrupt the flow, everything went smooth. And, most importantly, all the materials our presenters provided were valuable. It was timely, on-target content, and our in-person audience was ready with thought-provoking questions.
For the first time, we also had a true keynote address to open the seminar. Dr. Anirban Basu from Sage Policy Group was a welcome addition to the seminar, providing well-crafted insights into the current trends impacting the global economy. He was also more than happy to take deep dives into photonics-related issues, putting them into context within the bigger global picture.
The article in this supplement gives some perspective into his talk, but it was truly a treat to hear Dr. Basu’s presentation. If you were unable to attend, I highly encourage you to register for the virtual version of LPMS. I am sure you will enjoy his talk.
