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All Things Photonics: Daily Summaries Delivered
by All Things Photonics
From space exploration and quantum optics, to biomedical imaging and defense, today’s top scientific minds are using lasers, spectroscopy, sensors, and optics to deliver cutting-edge innovation to our society. In intimate conversations with those pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, “All Things Photonics” spotlights photonics industry progress from beyond the lab. Hear how 3D printed microscopes — and those developed for a fraction of the cost — offer our best hope for diagnosing disease in the developing world; why spectroscopy might be the most valuable tool in the crime scene technicians’ arsenal; how light can motorize drug delivery; and how the quantum cascade laser, CMOS image sensor, and robot-assisted surgery became realities. Notable guests include Nobel Prize winner Donna Strickland; Columbia University Eugene Higgins Professor of Electrical Engineering Michal Lipson; inventor of the CMOS image sensor Eric Fossum; serial entrepreneur Jason Eichenholz; co-namesake of the Hockney Falco Thesis Charles Falco; and SPIE President and founder of the Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center Anita Mahadevan-Jansen. “All Things Photonics”® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. The podcast was a shortlisted finalist in two categories — Best Science & Medical Podcast and Best Technology Podcast — for The Publishers Podcast Awards in 2021. It has again earned shortlist honors in the Best Science and Medical Podcast category for 2022. Contact us at Allthings@photonics.com.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago30 min
What OEM Photonics Buyers Actually Evaluate During Vendor Selection — Marco Pigozzi, Optotune
Optotune vice president of sales and marketing, Marco Pigozzi, answers the titular question of our episode, introducing a 15-part framework that identifies and answers why photonics vendors and their OEM customers are apt to fall out of alignment on the commercial deals that drive photonics forward. The nature of photonics OEM evaluations, their nuances, and a comprehensive understanding of what OEM purchasers need — and why vendors sometimes fail to align — is unpacked in this conversation. It is a useful guide for all in the industry ecosystem, supporting more meaningful business dealings at a time of rapid industry growth. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
- 2 weeks ago35 min
Machine Vision, Food Tracking, and Cyclospora – Robb Robles, Zebra Technologies
Cyclospora, an intestinal parasite, has sickened more than 22,000 Americans. The recent outbreak has been linked to contaminated lettuce from central Mexico that was later distributed in the U.S., with some researchers saying sewage contamination is the likely cause. Machine vision could prove to be vital in tracing food issues back to their original source. In this episode of All Things Photonics, BioPhotonics Senior Editor Douglas Farmer is speaking with Robb Robles, director of machine vision product management at Zebra Technologies. Robb discusses how machine vision technologies, with AI assistance, can help prevent widespread contamination of food products in the future by tracking them from the point they are harvested to when they are selected by the consumer. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
- Aug 18, 202621 min
Recognizing Talent and Sharing Wisdom – Fardin Ahmed, Teddi C. Laurin Scholarship Winner
For young professionals in the optics and photonics industry, it can be hard to feel seen. There are long nights in the lab and big ambitions that drive these individuals to try and leave their mark in this ever-evolving field. Fardin Ahmed is a graduate student at the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS-EMT) in Montreal. His research focuses on developing deterministic, room-temperature single-photon emitters in gallium nitride (GaN) and it’s already turning heads, earning him the honor of winning the 2026 Teddi C. Laurin Scholarship presented by SPIE. In this conversation, we discuss the moments that steered him towards a career in photonics, the mentors that influenced his work, and the advice he would give to other students who are hungry to prove themselves. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
- Aug 4, 202615 min
The Rise of the Metalens – John Fijol, Myrias Optics
One of the most exciting technologies being commercialized in the photonics space is the metalens. Metalenses are flat, lightweight optical components that manipulate light with tiny structures on their surface. They're able to replace traditional glass lenses in a lot of applications, making imaging systems lighter and more compact. In this episode, we speak with Myrias Optics’ CEO, John Fijol. The conversation covers some of the immediate applications, some that are a little bit further off, and the timeline to scaled manufacturing. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
- Jul 21, 202627 min
Sunlight Could Reduce Plastic Waste and Create Clean Fuel – Xiao Lu, University of Adelaide
A light-based process could not only reduce plastic waste, but it could also create a new path towards harvesting the materials needed for clean fuel. Xiao Lu is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Chemical Engineering at Adelaide University in Australia. Xiao and her colleagues have demonstrated that targeted sunlight can help to break down plastic waste, while also releasing hydrogen gas and other elements that could provide a viable source of renewable energy. She shares the details of her work, and the promise it may hold for future efforts at sustainable waste disposal. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
- Jul 7, 202614 min
Reimagining Optical and Photonic Design With Ultrafast Lasers – Jie Qiao, Rochester Institute of Technology
Ultrafast lasers are transforming how optical and photonic systems are designed, fabricated, and integrated. This evolving approach to processing offers a fundamentally different method than conventional means like diamond turning and ion-beam figuring. Jie Qiao is the director of the advanced optical fabrication, instrumentation, and metrology laboratory in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at Rochester Institute of Technology. In this episode of All Things Photonics, Qiao explains how ultrafast-laser direct fabrication can serve as a unified platform for shaping and finishing freeform optics. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
- Jun 23, 202638 min
Advanced Imaging Blasts Off with Artemis II — With Petko Dinev, Imperx
In April, Artemis II launched on a 10-day voyage around the moon. It was humanity’s first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. Along with its four astronauts, it carried a series of photonic systems with it. On the core of its space launch system rocket, Imperx charge-couple device cameras monitored engines and provided measurements vital to ensuring a safe and successful launch. Petko Dinev is the Founder, President, and CEO of Imperx. He shares his thoughts on the role optics and photonics will play in the emerging “space economy,” and he explains how advances in imaging can enable advances in space exploration on this episode of All Things Photonics. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
- Jun 9, 202623 min
Proposed Budget Cuts Threaten America’s Place in Scientific Research – With Jennifer O'Bryan
Leading groups among the scientific community are expressing their concerns over proposed White House budget cuts. America may sit on top of the mountain when it comes to research efforts, but other nations are catching up, and funding cuts could lead to there being a new global leader in R&D. SPIE has issued a call to action, asking Americans to contact their government officials to express their concern over proposed cuts. Jennifer O'Bryan is the Government Affairs Director for the society. In this episode of All Things Photonics, she shares her own concerns with President Trump's attitude towards science and what SPIE is doing to help protect research efforts. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu – www.Hamamatsu.com
About All Things Photonics
From space exploration and quantum optics, to biomedical imaging and defense, today’s top scientific minds are using lasers, spectroscopy, sensors, and optics to deliver cutting-edge innovation to our society. In intimate conversations with those pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, “All Things Photonics” spotlights photonics industry progress from beyond the lab. Hear how 3D printed microscopes — and those developed for a fraction of the cost — offer our best hope for diagnosing disease in the developing world; why spectroscopy might be the most valuable tool in the crime scene technicians’ arsenal; how light can motorize drug delivery; and how the quantum cascade laser, CMOS image sensor, and robot-assisted surgery became realities. Notable guests include Nobel Prize winner Donna Strickland; Columbia University Eugene Higgins Professor of Electrical Engineering Michal Lipson; inventor of the CMOS image sensor Eric Fossum; serial entrepreneur Jason Eichenholz; co-namesake of the Hockney Falco Thesis Charles Falco; and SPIE President and founder of the Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center Anita Mahadevan-Jansen. “All Things Photonics”® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. The podcast was a shortlisted finalist in two categories — Best Science & Medical Podcast and Best Technology Podcast — for The Publishers Podcast Awards in 2021. It has again earned shortlist honors in the Best Science and Medical Podcast category for 2022. Contact us at Allthings@photonics.com.
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