Despite apparent downturns in many sectors of the economy, optics and photonics appear to be booming, and the Rochester region a center of that growth. Plans announced this year by Governor George Pataki to establish a Center of Excellence in optics and photonics are underway. Proponents say the center would spur academic research and business development. Robert Novak, who directs the Optical Systems Technology Program at Monroe Community College says that his students, even first-year students, get very lucrative offers. William A. Johnson, Jr., mayor of Rochester, addresses the crowd gathered for a plenary session at OPTO-Northeast.
Cotton says efforts are well underway.
SPIE provided free student memberships to all students presenting poster papers. Nineteen students participated in the student poster session. Judges from Kodak Optics chose the winner and presented the prize, a Kodak mc3 camera. Another student poster presenter, Chad Bigelow, University of Rochester, also responded with a positive assessment of the session. There is a great deal of exciting research occurring in the surrounding region, and it was invaluable to be exposed to much of it by speaking directly with the people involved.