Jean-luc Communication Workshop

This past May 2nd, Jean-luc Doumont gave an excellent workshop on his “three laws of communication”:
(1) Adapt to your Audience
(2) Maximize Signal-to-Noise
(3) Use Effective Redundancy
He gave numerous examples of how to apply each of these laws and demonstrated how they can be used to improve effectiveness of a oral presentation or scientific writing. He has numerous resources available for those interested in improving their communication skills.
You can download handouts for his various sessions from www.principiae.be/lectures.
His book, ‘Trees, maps, and theorems’, is an excellent guide to improving all aspects of communication www.treesmapsandtheorems.com

Art in Science 2016: Reception and Winners

On November 17th, we held the reception for our annual Art in Science competition.
We were pleased to have received 40 submissions from departments across UCI’s campus. The stellar quality was impressive! Our guest judge, Professor Stephen Barker and Dean of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, eloquently told us his vision for the winners: how one may make emotions and perceptions come alive in art.
Professor Barker and our very own and much beloved adviser, Professor Eric O. Potma from the Department of Chemistry, came to unanimous decision on the top two winners and one honorable mention.
Honorable Mention: Neha Garg, “LCAT Particles”

The picture represents the particle (fluorescent) trapping in the microstreaming vortices at air-liquid interfaces. The air-liquid interfaces are actuated using an acoustic wave which creates streamlines in the fluid causing the particles to trap.

 
2nd Place: Haoxin Zhange, “Fear of the Brain”
When animals or human beings are threatened, they feel fear. In my study, the virus containing the m-cherry fluorescent protein gene sequence and the opsin gene sequence was labeled to Parvalbumin-positive neuron subtype in certain areas of the mice’s brain. Exciting these neuron optogenetically will induce the innate fear responses of the animal. In the behavioural experiment, rodent presented freezing behaviour, which means they were feeling fear, when stimulating these specific neuron. The brain tissue was then sliced and the labeled neurons were captured by confocal microscopy. This figure presents the neurons responsible for fear emotion in rodent brain.

1st Place: Yasemin Sarigul-Klijn, “Musicglove”
[This comic is] inspired by the research that has gone on with my lab to aid people with disability, and that I too have had the privilege to contribute to.
 
With a good dose of art and snacks, we bid 2016, adieu. To view this year’s, and past year’s winners, drop by the lobby in Natural Sciences 2 when you need a study/lab break! 

Photonics@UCI with “Light the future: a community outreach event” at OFC 2015

Spring break offered us the opportunity to share light with the youngest. We went to the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering (more about it soon), and to Los Angeles, at the “Light the future: a community outreach event” happening during the OFC conference. We had the chance to interact with OSA, other student chapters, curious high-school students, and a brilliant group of girl scouts.

San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering’s 2015 Festival Week

Inspire the future innovator in your life! Experience the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering from March 14- 21 featuring over 35 STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) related events throughout San Diego County. For more information: www.loveSTEMsd.org. #loveSTEMsd15
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We will be there for the third year! Together with the Optical Institute of Southern California, we have a booth on Saturday 21, 2015. Look for the Optics Institute of Southern California and Photonics@UCI booth in the Right Field of the PETCO Stadium and come to explore light, colors, and even robots with us!
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See more photos of last years participation here.
The Photonics@UCI team.

7th Art in Science

Thank you everyone who participated to the 7th Art in Science contest! We had a wonderful time with the contestants, the judges, the Kaleri team, and all of you who joined us for the event.
We are excited to share all 33 entires with you here and present the winners of the night. If you want to discover the story behind each piece of art visit the online exhibit on the Kaleri website.
Remember that the People’s Choice Award is still to be decided. Vote for your favorite entry on Twitter using the hashtag #ais7 and mention @KaleriArt (if you do not use the Kaleri App, add the name of the piece on the tweet). Voting closes Nov. 24th at 23:59 and the winner will be announced here and on the Kaleri website on November 25th.

Congrats to the winners!

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First place: Amanda Dark with Stain Art
27_Amanda Dark
Second place: Adam Luke with Trippy Mississippi
25_Adam Luke
Third place: Julia H. Majors with Repixelation
06_Julia H. Majors
Honorable mention: Donn Silberman with When is a window a mirror? – Self Portrait
03_Donn Silberman
 

Art in Science Deadline: TODAY at midnight

Hello everyone,
Last hours to submit at the 7th Art in Science contest here!!
You can also start voting for your favorite artwork on Twitter with the hashtag #ais7.
Good luck to all participants!
See you all on the contest day: 20th November, 2014. Starting at 6pm, in Natural Sciences 2 building.

Art in Science: Deadline extended to 18th November

Photonics@UCI presents

7th Art in Science contest

We encourage all UCI affiliates, in all disciplines, to present their work as beautiful pieces of art. Submit your work hereSubmission deadline has been extended to Tuesday, November 18th, 2014. Check the submission guidelines here and examples of previous editions here.
A jury formed by OSA affiliated professors will judge the entires on an event that will take place on Thursday, November 20th, 2014 at 6:15pm, where snacks and drinks will be served.
This year we are going online! We collaborate with Kaleri for a virtual exhibit that you will be able to enjoy for longer time and to share with all your friends. Additionally, Kaleri is sponsoring a special $50 People’s Choice Award for the most tweeted artwork containing the hashtag #ais7. So get the Kaleri App (Android and iOS) and vote for your favorite piece!
In case of any question, please contact Rupsa at rupsad@uci.edu
Let the contest begin!
photonics@UCI team

Frontiers in Photonics: Donn Silberman

You are all invited to a special Frontiers in Photonics Lunch & Learn Seminar.

Fundamentals and recent advances in micro and nanopositioning for fast photonic process automation

DonnSilberman

Donn Silberman

Sr. Applications Engineer, PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.

Founding Director, Optics Institute of Southern California

Fellow, Past Pres. Optical Society of Southern California

Founder, UC Irvine Optical Engineering & Instrument Design Programs

 
When: Thursday Nov. 6, 2014 at 11:45 – 1 pm
Where: Natural Sciences 2, room 1201.
 
Abstract:
Maximum positioning accuracy is now obligatory in many application areas. Semiconductor manufacturing, fiber optics and photonic alignment, microscopy, surface measurement technology, biotechnology, medical engineering and automation technology often require positioning systems with resolutions and repeatability in the nanometer range. Add to this the requirements for short response times, vacuum-compatible designs that may need to function over a wide temperature range and the challenges mount for both scientific researchers and industries’ engineers.
This presentation will begin with some fundamental concepts in micro and nanopositioning and then take a dive into the world of high precision photonic alignment.  Real examples of results obtained with precision mechanism, electronic control systems and a snap shot of the latest algorithms will be reviewed as they relate to the field of silicon photonics.
The National Photonics Initiative a brief update
Last month the Optical Society of Southern California (OSSC) hosted the largest National Photonics Initiative (NPI) meeting to date at Precision Optical in Costa Mesa, CA.  This brief presentation will provide a quick overview of the NPI and the recently announced planned investment of $200 million in Public-Private funds to create an Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute that could be located near UC Irvine.
 
Bio: Donn M. Silberman is a Fellow and Past President of the Optical Society of Southern California, where he has had active roles for over 20 years. He is the Senior Applications and Sales Engineer for PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.; a world leader in the design, manufacture and provider of precision positioning and motion control systems for industry, research and academia. Many of these engineered products are used for the highest precision imaging and laser systems on earth, in space and even on Mars. They include systems on the Mars Rover Curiosity, major semiconductor manufacturing and inspection systems, large professional astronomical and solar telescopes, fiber optic telecommunication systems and research grade atomic, optical and laser based microscopy systems.
He holds B.S. in Engineering Physics (Honors in Physics) – University of Arizona and worked at the Optical Sciences Center and taught undergraduate physics labs. He was the Society of Physics Students President from 1981 – 1983 and SPS Councilor from 1983 – 1984. In 1994, he received a Master of Science degree in Technology Management from Pepperdine University.
In 2012, he received the UC Irvine Extension Dean’s Outstanding Service Award.
He was the 2012-2013 Univ. of Arizona Honor’s College Advocate for Education Award Winner.
Mr. Silberman was designated as a Senior Member of SPIE in 2009 and a Senior Member of OSA in 2010 for his specific achievements in optics education, outreach and engineering.