As an important future and key technology, photonics is of enormous relevance to society as a whole for solving current and future challenges in the fields of health, the environment, medicine and security. In order to make a career start in this promising field more attractive for young female graduates and top employees and to pave the way for a career in research and industry in the photonics sector, Leibniz IPHT is providing important impulses with its "Women in Photonics" workshop.
During the four-day event, female doctoral and postdoctoral researchers will benefit from valuable inspirations provided by both experienced leaders and regional company representatives. In addition to tips on career development, young female scientists have the opportunity to engage in professional discussions with other female researchers, present their own research results to an international audience of experts, and exchange ideas on current photonics topics and trends.
"With many examples of successful female scientists and the mutual exchange of experiences, we want to encourage young women to develop their scientific potential, to take their next career step in research or industry and to help shape the research field of optical technologies with their ideas," says Prof. Dr. Jürgen Popp, scientific director at Leibniz IPHT and initiator of the event series.
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, has been supporting the event since the workshop series began in 2018. "Connecting people and improving the human condition through light-based sciences are core to the SPIE mission, and this is truly only possible with a diverse and equitable society," says 2023 SPIE President-Elect and co-chair Prof. Jennifer Barton from the University of Arizona, USA. "SPIE has a long history of supporting women researchers and engineers throughout their career through our conference programs and our various community support programs including our ‘Women in Optics’ planner. The ’Women in Photonics’ workshop at Leibniz IPHT is an important part of SPIE's efforts to help elevate and showcase the many ideas, talents, and expertise of women in our field and I am proud to be part of the organizing committee and am looking forward to the energy and enthusiasm the week will bring."
Prof. Jennifer Barton will co-chair the workshop alongside Prof. Dr. Jürgen Popp from Leibniz IPHT and Prof. Małgorzata Barańska from Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland.
Registration is open until August 31, 2023
With a focus on optical health technologies, this year's event places a special emphasis on light-based technologies for disease diagnostics and therapy. Interested female scientists who are researching and working in these fields have the opportunity to register for participation in the "Women in Photonics" workshop in Jena via the following website by August 31, 2023: www.biophotonics4future.com/wip-2023/<http://www.biophotonics4future.com/wip-2023/>
The submission of abstracts for presenting individual research contributions in the form of posters or the participation in the scientific lecture program is also possible online via the mentioned website. Participation in the workshop is free of charge. A limited number of travel grants are available.