November 14, 2008--Dr. Thomas Baer, executive director of the Stanford Photonics Research Center (SPRC; Stanford, CA) and a major figure in the photonics community, will be the keynote speaker at Laser Focus World'sLasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar 2009. The Seminar, to be held on Monday, January 26, 2009 in conjunction with SPIE's Photonics West conference (San Jose, CA; January 24 to 29), is the only event anywhere that focuses on the entire laser marketplace; its coverage extends to the rest of the photonics industry as well.
As the 50th anniversary of the invention of the laser approaches, the field of optoelectronics is in the midst of a second renaissance--new science, technology, and instruments. Baer's position as head of the SPRC gives him a perspective that few people have: the understanding of every stage in the birth and growth of a new photonic technology. Technical advances frequently originate in university and government labs, and then require industrial development in order to become successful products. The SPRC is involved in everything from basic research (such as quantum science) to leading-edge technology (silicon photonics and nanophotonics are just two examples) to linking university research with industry (for example, the annual SPRC photonics symposium).
Drawing upon this synergy, Baer will discuss several examples of innovative photonics technology and explain the university's philosophy and procedures for efficient transfer of these inventions to commercial enterprise. This sort of transfer is essential to the practical development of negative-index metamaterials, photonic-crystal fibers, optical combs, in-vivo biophotonic imaging, high-efficiency organic LED and photovoltaic devices, and other new photonic technologies.
Tom Baer
In addition to heading the SPRC, Dr. Baer is a member of the Applied Physics Department at Stanford. His current research is focused on developing imaging and analysis technology for exploring the molecular basis of developmental biology and neuroscience.
Baer has made major contributions in the areas of biotechnology, quantum electronics, and laser applications, and is listed as an inventor on 60 patents and is a co-author on many peer-reviewed publications in a number of different scientific fields. His commercial products have received many industry awards for design innovation. Co-founder of four companies in Silicon Valley, he was named entrepreneur of the year for emerging companies in Silicon Valley in 2000 by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Dr. Baer will serve as the President of the Optical Society of America in 2009.
Seminar info
The Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar 2009 will be held at San Jose's Fairmont Hotel. The Seminar provides a comprehensive market perspective that is unobtainable elsewhere, with market data segmented by applications and laser technology from three of the photonics industry's leading resources: Laser Focus World, which delivers global coverage of the entire photonics industry; Industrial Laser Solutions, a primary source of information on industrial laser materials processing; and Strategies Unlimited, the world's foremost photonics market research company. In addition, industry experts present their views and analysis of photonics-market trends, applications development, and business outlook.
Tom Baer's keynote presentation, which is called "Emerging Photonics Opportunities: A perspective from Stanford's Photonics Research Center," will be given at 1:30 pm.