Panel Sessions
This year’s series of panels will chaired by Matt Posner – Axonal Networks, Canada.
ETO-PIC: Education and Training in Optics and Photonics Integrated Circuits
Description:
Photonics Integrated Circuits technology presents new challenges and opportunities for educators and trainers in physics and engineering education. Join this panel session to reflect on lessons learned and debate best practices for effective education programs
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify didactic frameworks, skills, and strategies for implementing education and training programs for PIC technology.
- Formulate an action item that can be transferred to the physics and engineering education sector.
Training, education and outreach as career development tools: A fireside chat with Optica Ambassadors
Panellists:
Dr. Neda Baktash, Coherent Corp, United Kingdom
Dr. Claire Cisowski, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
Dr. George O. Dwapanyin, University of St Andrews, United Kingdom
Dr. Fabian Ruf, ZEISS, Germany.
Panel Description:
Maintaining education, training, and outreach activities during the early stages of a career is’nt straightforward. Join Optica Ambassadors to discuss strategies for staying engaged with and contributing to the community.
Demo Showcase:
The panel will be followed by a showcase featuring kits developed by the panelists. Join this session to discover hands-on experiments on Raman spectroscopy, pepper ghost experiment, reflection, refraction, and polarization.
Moderator:
Dr. Matthew Posner, https://www.optica.org/history/biographies/bios/matthew_posner/
Matthew applies his technical and business skills to advancing photonics technologies, outreach education, and career development. His professional interests are PICs, education pedagogy, and “getting science out of the lab.” He is a Senior Member of Optica, SPIE, and IEEE, and Director of Technology at Axonal Networks.
Panellists:
Dr. Neda Baktash, https://www.optica.org/history/biographies/bios/neda_baktash/
Neda Baktash is the Lead Laser Development Engineer at Coherent Corp in Glasgow, Scotland. She is an Optica Senior Member, SPIE Member, and 2025 Optica Ambassador. Neda serves as an officer for Optica’s Lasers in Manufacturing and Laser Systems Technical Groups and is a member and secretary of AILU’s Early Career Group. She is also a Scotland STEM Ambassador.
Dr. Claire Cisowski, https://www.optica.org/history/biographies/bios/claire_cisowski/
Claire Cisowski is an early career Leverhulme research fellow based in the Optics group of the university of Glasgow. Her research focuses on applying topology to optics. She is one of the founding members of the Optica student chapter of the Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and has continued to serve the optics community beyond her PhD as chair of the polarization management and propagation technical group. She was nominated Optica Ambassador in 2025.
Dr. George O. Dwapanyin, https://www.optica.org/history/biographies/bios/george_dwapanyin/
George Dwapanyin is a Ghanaian research fellow in advanced optical imaging & spectroscopy at the University of St Andrews. Beyond professional life, he is a member of Photonics Ghana. A group established with the vision of promoting research and economic growth through photonic applications in Ghana and Africa. George also serves as a reviewer and mentor for several programs and committees within Optica and beyond including the Amplify scholarship and Immersion committees. He has been an ambassador since 2024.
Dr Fabian Ruf, https://www.optica.org/history/biographies/bios/fabian_ruf/
Fabian Ruf is an Integrated Optics & Photonics Designer at ZEISS, Germany. He is passionate about teaching and promoting optics as a means to improve education in underprivileged communities. He was awarded the 2023 Pivoting Fellowship for his work with the Helping Hands Network in Liberia and is a 2025 Optica Ambassador.