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| Founded | 1916; 108 years ago (1916) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Perley G. Nutting |
| Type | 501(c)3 organization |
| 53-0259696 | |
| Focus | Optics and photonics |
| Location |
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Area served | Worldwide |
| Method | Professional journals and conferences |
Members | 22,000 |
Key people | Gerd Leuchs (2024 president)
Michal Lipson (2023 president) Stephen D. Fantone (2020 president) Elizabeth A. Rogan (CEO) |
Revenue | $49,549,907[1][2] |
| Endowment | $74,991,615 |
Employees | 150 |
| Website | www |
'Optica (founded as the Optical Society of America; later the Optical Society) is a professional society of individuals and companies with an interest in optics and photonics. It publishes journals, organizes conferences and exhibitions, and carries out charitable activities.
Optica was founded in 1916 as the Optical Society of America, under the leadership of Perley G. Nutting,[3] with 30 optical scientists and instrument makers based in Rochester, New York. It soon published its first journal of research results and established an annual meeting.[4][5] The group's Journal of the Optical Society of America was created in 1918.[5] The first series of joint meetings with the American Physical Society took place in 1918.[5]
In 2008, it changed its name to the Optical Society.[6] In September 2021, the organization's name changed to Optica, in reference to the organization's journal by the same name and geographic neutrality to reflect the society’s global membership.[7]
In 2024, following an employee whistleblower complaint, Bloomberg News reported that the Optica Foundation Challenge was funded entirely by Huawei.[8][9][10] In response, the United States House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology launched a probe and Optica announced that it would no longer accept money from Huawei and return its donations from the company from 2022 onward.[11][12]
Optica Publishing Group
Optica Publishing Group is Optica’s scientific publishing platform, which publishes peer-reviewed optics and photonics research. Optica Publishing Group’s portfolio consists of 20 publications.[13]
Optica presents awards and honors, including Optica Fellow, Honorary Membership, and Awards/Medals. Optica's awards and medals program is endowed through the Optica Foundation, and includes more than 20 named awards; among them are the following:[16]
The following persons are or have been presidents of the society:[17]
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