Recently announced initiatives by Coherent Laser Grou¥(Santa Clara, CA) and New Focus (Sunnyvale, CA) add to efforts to, in the words of New Focus founder and president Milton Chang, "try to be helpful to the community." Coherent has established a Travel Grant Program to enable US-based students and postdoctoral researchers to defray expenses in presenting their work--in laser design or scientific research--at domestic meetings. Five $1000 awards will be made per quarter to winners drawn by lottery. Deadline is June 30 for conferences between July 1 and September 30. Contact John Ambroseo (800) 527-3786, who notes there were more than 100 nominations for the first grant period.
Product introductions raise hopes for higher laser sales in France