WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Optics applications and one-on-one interaction will be the focus of Photonic Applications, Systems and Technologies (PhAST), a series of sessions that will debut at the 2004 Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/IQEC), to be held May 17-20 in San Francisco. The Optical Society of America (OSA), which sponsors CLEO/IQEC, said the three-day PhAST program will include sessions on lasers in manufacturing and photonics in homeland and national security and symposia on biophotonics instrumentation, photonics in nanotechnology and commercialization in semiconductor photonics. PhAST will also feature technical sessions, invited talks, panel discussions, keynote speakers, demonstrations and receptions. OSA said PhAST "will enable product development engineers to exchange ideas and information on the use of optics in new products and services and will provide an overview of emerging application areas while encouraging discussion of next-generation functions of new scientific advancements and foster networking opportunities industry leaders." "It is great to see the organizing committee address the needs of the working engineer with a meeting unique in content and format,” said Milton Chang, of Incubic LLC, who will chair business and management-focused panel sessions and a "meet-the-experts" luncheon. "Where else can I sit in the same room engaging in one-on-one conversations with leaders who have designed successful products, won Nobel prizes, built companies and been awarded significant contracts?" PhAST will also introduce a novel approach to highlighting currently available products, OSA said. Exhibitors will be given the opportunity to showcase their technologies and advancements by submitting a product for peer-review evaluation and demonstration. Selected presentations will be showcased during 40-minute sessions and will be evaluated on impact, functionality, life expectancy, industry significance and innovation. The highest-scoring presentation will receive the PhAST Product Innovation Award. OSA said papers are being be solicited on the topics of lasers in manufacturing (review committee chaired by Leonard Marabella of JDS Uniphase) and photonics for homeland and national security (chaired by John Pellegrino of the Army Research Laboratory). The submission deadline is November 25 at noon. For more information, visit: www.phastconference.org