The Optical Society (OSA), based in Washington, has established the Alhazen Egyptian OSA Local Section, the society’s first in the Middle East. The Cairo-based group has been approved by the OSA Member and Education Services Council. Professor Mohamed Abdel Harith of the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science at Cairo University will serve as president of this section, which is a self-governing organization. The name comes from the 11th-century scientist Alhazen, who was born in Mesopotamia (current-day Iraq) and lived in Egypt. The section will support the growing optics and photonics industry in Egypt and throughout the region.