Optoelectronics Research Centre academics elected to Fellow of the Optical Society (OSA)

Amongst 101 new OSA members from around the world elected to the 2018 OSA Fellows Class by The Optical Society (OSA) Board of Directors, are Professor Periklis Petropoulos and Dr Radan Slavik, both from the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) in Southampton.

Also honoured is a former member of the ORC, Anatoly Grudinin, who founded Fianium Ltd – the global leader in ultrafast fibre lasers and laser systems recently acquired by NKT Photonics.

Fellows are selected based on several factors, including specific scientific, engineering, and technological contributions, technical or industry leadership in the field as well as service to OSA and the global optics community.

“I am pleased to welcome the 2018 OSA Fellows. They will continue, through their work, to foster growth in their individual fields. Their achievements are excellent examples of the substantial impact of optics and photonics on the global sphere,” said Eric Mazur, 2017 President, The Optical Society. “We had a record number of applicants this year and the group’s diversity is a testament to The Optical Society’s growing global influence.”

Fellows of The Optical Society are members who have served with distinction in the advancement of optics and photonics. The OSA Fellow Members Committee reviews nominations submitted by current OSA Fellows, then recommends candidates to the OSA Board of Directors. The committee is led by Chairman Edward A. Watson, of the University of Dayton. No more than 10 percent of the total OSA membership may be chosen as Fellows, making the process both highly selective and competitive.

Professor Sir David Payne, Director of the ORC, said: “Once again I am delighted to see the true calibre of past and present ORC academic staff recognised on the world stage. This honour is testimony to the contribution our academics are making to the advancement of research into the science of light.”

Professor Periklis Petropoulos, said: “It’s such an honour to be recognised as one of the leaders in this field. I feel extremely fortunate for having the opportunity to work with so many brilliant researchers at Southampton over the years.” Dr Radan Slavik, said: “Indeed, it is pleasant to be recognised by leading scientists working in your field. This award gives me confidence that my research direction and results are appreciated by the research community.”

The new Fellows will be honoured at OSA conferences and meetings throughout 2018. A listing of all 101 new Fellows can be found by following the link to The Optical Society below.