Czech Optical Cluster’s Post

🏆⚡️ The winners of the annual B-Photonics Cup have been announced! This science competition among various Belgian schools is an initiative of VUB B-PHOT Brussels Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Colruyt Group Technics, challenging youth to develop their own gadget of the future based on light technology. The ‘Smart Letterbox’ from the pupils of BA Pitzemburg clinched the top prize. 📬🏆 ⚙️ The B-Photonics Cup tasks students from the fifth and sixth years of secondary education to develop a working prototype of their idea within one year and present it to a professional jury. Participating teams receive a course in photonics and a budget to purchase materials. 🚀 🗣️ This presents a unique opportunity for students to explore technology and creatively solve real-world problems by collaborating as a team. "At VUB, we believe it's crucial to showcase that an engineer possesses far more skills than just mathematics and science," says coordinator Tine De Pauw. "Creativity is equally important. We aim to inspire as many students as possible to pursue engineering careers!" 🧑🔬 🤝 The Colruyt Group Technics team is delighted to support the B-Photonics Cup. "It's wonderful to see young people becoming enthusiastic about science and technology," says Bart Bosmans. "We've witnessed incredible projects involving photonics. For the next edition: join us!" ✨ https://lnkd.in/ejRRRExK #VUBrussel #ColruytGroup #Technics #Photonics #Innovation #Technology #Engineering #STEM #STEAM #Science #YoungScientists #YoungEngineers

📢 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 The 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), proudly introduces the 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐫𝐚 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 in association with 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚 (𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚).This initiative marks a significant milestone in fostering excellence in optics and photonics research. 🔍 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: •An 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟑𝟓𝟎 𝐔𝐒𝐃 has been awarded to our student chapter to organize expert lectures, workshops, and other academic activities that advance knowledge and innovation in optics and photonics. •A 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 will attend the 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧, 𝐃.𝐂., 𝐔𝐒𝐀, 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, representing our university on a global platform. •Based on the chapter's performance, the funding can be extended up to 𝟑,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐔𝐒𝐃 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, enabling larger-scale activities and collaborations. This initiative will provide invaluable opportunities for research, innovation, and global collaboration in optics and photonics. Stay tuned for updates and upcoming events! #GraphicEra #OpticaStudentChapter #OpticsAndPhotonics #ResearchInnovation #GlobalLeadership #EngineeringExcellence

MashaAllah, alhamdulillah grateful to share our published paper in the ASEAN Journal of Engineering Education: ‘Development of an Arduino-Based Photometer for Reactive Red 120 Dye Detection during COVID-19,’ a collaboration with Dr. Nur Safwati Mohd Nor (SKM, UTM JB) This project, developed during the pandemic, highlights how affordable technology and innovative teaching methods can empower students in STEM fields. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, we successfully integrated real-world applications into remote learning environments, bridging science and education. May this inspire more impactful collaborations! Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/gqjNXAtg #UTM #Chemistry #Mechatronics

Engineering and in general STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and practice is expensive, can drain precious resources (materials, energy etc.) and can be very time consuming (in setting up of physical experiments and different trial and error efforts). That is why numerical modelling is steadily gaining ground in a range of STEM related fields ranging from mechanical reliability of bridges to the design of medically implantable devices. Numerical modelling allows for quick and inexpensive testing without needing to build physical devices, gives insight and understanding into different phenomena, can be used to design products/solutions and can be used to optimize processes. #UMA #CCK #RNU #ErasmusPlus #workshop #Pythagoras #ErasmusPlus #EuropeanUnion #partners #tunisia #egypt #italy #cyprus #HigherEducation #curriculum_design_and_development #identification_of_skills_needs #Entrepreneurship #competitiveness #Innovation #researchanddevelopment #numerical_methods_in_science #solving_real_world_problems More details : https://pythagoras.rnu.tn/ https://lnkd.in/dqXjtNCc https://lnkd.in/dizu2HqB https://lnkd.in/dbKwwbCi https://lnkd.in/dhgvZFQi https://lnkd.in/daF4-654 https://lnkd.in/dNwh-ySB

Opportunity

Have been trying to write this post for the last couple of weeks but kept getting delayed due to a hectic schedule. A very well-deserved "PASS with Minor Corrections" outcome for my exceptional PhD student Maria Waheed in her final (4 hours plus) marathon PhD viva. Many congratulations to her for this brilliant achievement. Thanks to Tobias Fischer and Tony Pipe for examining Maria's PhD thesis. Maria was co-supervised by Klaus McDonald-Maier at the University of Essex. Michael Milford was a big help for us (supervisors + Maria) throughout as he provided very constructive comments, suggestions, and feedback regarding her PhD work. Maria's thesis titled "Complementarity-based Visual Place Recognition in Changing Environments" presents SwitchHit, a probabilistic, complementarity-based switching system that dynamically selects the most suitable VPR technique based on complementarity. Unlike traditional methods that run multiple techniques simultaneously, SwitchHit intelligently switches to a better technique when necessary, distinguishing it from other setups and significantly improving VPR performance. The thesis also introduces SwitchFuse, a hybrid model that merges the strengths of switching and fusion strategies for optimal VPR performance, surpassing similar setups, including SwitchHit and existing multi-fusion systems. The findings underscore the importance of innovative, complementarity-informed approaches in developing robust and efficient VPR systems. Different chapters of this PhD thesis have already been published at top robotics venues, including IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, IROS and ICRA. Finally, best wishes for Maria Waheed as she begins as a postdoc at Imperial College London - an excellent place to start the postdoc journey indeed! #phd #success #visualplacerecognition #vpr #computerscience #robotics #essex #uk #ieee #iros #icra #ral

Undergraduate Research, Interdisciplinary Thinking, and the Power of Experiential Learning at UAB Physics What does it take to prepare the next generation of scientists and innovators?  The most successful problem-solvers aren’t necessarily those who specialize early, but rather those who develop broad, cross-disciplinary expertise and embrace diverse experiences. Lilly Dong, a junior in our Department of Physics at UAB, embodies this mindset through her research in stimuli-responsive nanofibers for drug delivery. Recently earning second place in the Physical and Applied Sciences category at the Fall 2024 UAB Expo, Lilly’s journey—from identifying polymers in a UAB lab to advancing her research in Warsaw, Poland through an NSF-funded International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program led by UAB Physics professor Andrei Stanishevsky—demonstrates the power of exploration, adaptability, and hands-on learning. At UAB Physics, we believe in the transformative impact of experiential learning. Our students don’t just study physics; they apply it in cutting-edge research labs, collaborate across disciplines like materials science and biomedical engineering, engage globally, and develop leadership skills that prepare them for the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Through our work-based learning initiatives and our research-intensive undergraduate program pathways, we cultivate the kind of broad, adaptable thinking that is essential for success in an AI-driven economy. Lilly’s achievements, and those of many other UAB Physics students, reflect our commitment to integrating education, research, and innovation. We are proud to be a department that provides students with real-world problem-solving experiences, supporting their growth as both scientists and leaders. If you’re looking for a place where curiosity meets opportunity, where interdisciplinary research fuels discovery, and where students chart their own paths toward groundbreaking careers, look no further than UAB Physics.

🔬 From Physics Questions to Photonics Design: Cooper's STEM Pathway 💡   Meet Cooper Hurley, Photonics Design Engineer at Spark Photonics! Cooper’s journey into STEM began with an insatiable curiosity for science and math, nurtured by passionate teachers. His high school physics teacher, Dr. Clyfe Beckwith, played a pivotal role, encouraging Cooper to explore engineering after fielding countless challenging questions during class.   Cooper’s career and education path have evolved over time. After starting a Ph.D. in photonics, he decided to leave the program to explore LED lighting design—a more artistic yet physics-driven field. This detour gave him fresh insights and an appreciation for the diversity of applications in the semiconductor industry. Ultimately, Cooper completed his master’s degree and returned to photonics with a renewed perspective.   His advice for aspiring STEM professionals? “Take initiative, be curious, and ask questions!”   #SPFstem #PhotonicsDesign #SemiconductorCareers #NationalCareerDevelopmentMonth

UCL EEE is proud to have supported the In2research 2024 programme, offering undergraduates meaningful, hands-on involvement in pioneering research. By welcoming these future engineers into our labs, we not only help them build critical skills for their careers in academia or industry, but also advance innovation in areas like optical communications and prosthetic technology. Two driven undergraduates, Amin Mohamed (Imperial College London) and Mahdi Hasan (Queen Mary University of London), recently tackled ambitious projects under the guidance of UCL mentors - ranging from machine-learning algorithms on FPGAs to 3D-printed prosthetics with integrated touch sensors. Learn more about the impact of their research at UCL: https://lnkd.in/ebDSdQpk #In2research #UCL #STEM #Engineering #Research #HigherEducation #AcademicOpportunities Filipe Ferreira Yu W.

𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐈’𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥! 📚   After a lot of thought, I decided, a while ago, to go back to school and pursue a master's degree in 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬! After graduating from a master's degree in particle physics in 2021, I started working in a more commercial environment as an innovation funding consultant. I learned so much from my colleagues and clients, gaining invaluable experience and insights in bridging the gap between technology development and practical aspects such as project funding, project management and communication. After my time as a consultant I wanted to go back to the more scientific side, I felt I wasn't done learning and this master's degree answered this urge of mine. For those of you unfamiliar with photonics, in a nutshell, it is the science and technology of generating, controlling, manipulating and detecting (with) light. It's a field that has a profound impact on industries ranging from telecommunications and healthcare to energy and manufacturing. Three months in, I'm very happy I made this choice and I have discovered so many interesting applications. Photonics plays a pivotal role in creating cutting-edge technologies like fiber optics, lasers, photovoltaic systems, quantum computing and so much more. Considering the achievements of the past decades and the potential of photonics to further facilitate innovation in multiple industries, it has been recognized as one of 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞’𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐊𝐄𝐓𝐬) of the 21st century. I started this study at the beginning of September 2024, in Barcelona. This master 's program is a collaboration of 3 universities: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and Universitat de Barcelona (UB). Collaboration is important in science and it is a pleasure to attend the lectures given by experts from the different universities.