Light finds a way

DANIEL MCCARTHY, SENIOR EDITOR DANIEL.MCCARTHY@PHOTONICS.COM

Uncertainty is part of life in any year. But the uncertainties arising from 2020’s global pandemic have literally remapped daily life. In a climate of such ambiguity, our brains tend to seek patterns or milestones — a tendency I was reminded of recently as I began mapping out the first Photonics Spectra issues of 2021.

The planning process forced me, for the first time in over half a year, to stop thinking of January and February as the last time I boarded a plane, or lingered inside a restaurant, or unself-consciously shook hands at an industry trade event. Instead, I found myself regarding these months as the first time I’ll be able to truly put my imprint on Photonics Spectra’s editorial direction and content.

Life goes on. We adapt to change. We find workarounds in uncertain times. We innovate. Often, difficult times make us even more innovative.

For all the uncertainty that COVID-19 injected into supply chains, professional collaborations, and work settings, we haven’t seen much decline in scientific activity, technical advancements, or commercial developments. The industry continues to evolve in the face of uncertainty.

Photonics Media is evolving in kind. This January, we are inaugurating the first-ever, online Photonics Spectra Conference (PSC): a five-day event encompassing technical presentations, product demonstrations, and company exhibitions.

Scheduled to run from January 19 to 22, the conference will feature about 60 online presentations arranged into four tracks covering lasers, optics, spectroscopy, and biomedical imaging. Each track is divided into three sections to focus on applications, trends, and advancements in component and system design. Registration is free.

We are still assembling the conference agenda and will begin to unveil it in early October. I cannot give too much away now, but we have had remarkable success in attracting highly recognized industry-leading presenters on virtually every key topic we’ve pursued. Stay tuned to www.photonics.com/pscinfo for more details.

The year 2020 will be remembered as a time of trials and uncertainty for the photonics industry. We’re looking forward to starting 2021 stronger, wiser, and more innovative.

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