The Optical Society (OSA; Washington, DC) has officially changed its name to Optica, the Society advancing optics and photonics worldwide. The new name reinforces Optica’s position as a forum for advancing light science and technology, and reflects its diverse, global community.
Optica was founded in 1916 to promote the generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge in optics or light science. Since that time, both the discipline and the Society have grown. While the generation, detection, direction, and modulation of light remains at the core of optics, the field has expanded to include light-enabled technologies ranging from modern communications, imaging, and sensing (photonics). With its new name, the Society is well positioned to further advance optics and photonics to solve some of the world’s most challenging problems.
As the organization embraces its new brand, it will be introducing new programs and services. For example, starting in 2022, Optica members who reside in emerging market countries will be able to participate in the Society’s in-person and virtual meetings for free. Offering waived registration removes significant financial barriers for these members and ensures learning, connecting, and sharing is accessible to everyone.
In conjunction with the launch of Optica, a visual celebration of the extraordinary diversity of its global community was created. This collection, called Faces of Optica, includes close to 70 portraits of people from nine cities in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. captured over the last three months by renowned portrait photographer Sam Barker.