About
16 December 2010
Northern California OSA Local Section Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lyndsay Meyer
The Optical Society
+1.202.416.1435
lmeyer@osa.org
Northern California OSA Local Section Announced
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 – The Optical Society (OSA) is pleased to announce the formation of its newest Local Section, the Northern California Section of the OSA (NCal OSA). NCal OSA was recently approved by an OSA Membership and Education Services Council Subcommittee and will serve the Silicon Valley, Bay Area and northern part of California. NCal OSA is a self-governing organization with its own officers and bylaws, and an initial membership of more than 150 optics and photonics professionals in the area.
NCal OSA will promote local, inter-disciplinary and multi-national interactions between optics professionals in Northern California by utilizing the diversified industrial and academic resources in the Silicon Valley and Bay Area. NCal OSA will also work with other local OSA sections, OSA Student Chapters, optics-related professional organizations and other professional organizations in the mechanical, electronic, biological, and chemistry fields. NCal OSA is the second OSA local section in California, joining the Optical Society of Southern California (OSSC).
“Local Sections are such an asset to the OSA community as they help to bridge local companies with laboratories and further youth education outreach,” said Thomas Baer, 2009 OSA president and NCal member. “OSA actually started as a local movement so it’s only fitting to continue the tradition of expanding OSA at a local level. I am excited to be involved with this section and look forward to its growth and accomplishments.”
OSA Local Sections engage in a variety of activities, from hosting local meetings focused on technical topics and business networking, to reaching out to help young students learn about science and the world of optics. OSA’s national organization supports the Local Sections by providing activity grants, awards, publications, guest lecturer programs and year-round networking opportunities. Groups interested in starting Local Sections must go through an application process, including approval by the Membership and Education Services Subcommittee. Currently there are 22 OSA Local Sections with seven located outside of the United States.
About OSA
Uniting more than 106,000 professionals from 134 countries, the Optical Society (OSA) brings together the global optics community through its programs and initiatives. Since 1916 OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing educational resources to the scientists, engineers and business leaders who work in the field by promoting the science of light and the advanced technologies made possible by optics and photonics. OSA publications, events, technical groups and programs foster optics knowledge and scientific collaboration among all those with an interest in optics and photonics. For more information, visit www.osa.org.
###