Conference Updates

We are very excited to introduce another of our invited speakers, Erin McDermott of Spire Starter!

Erin McDermott is an expert in nonimaging optics who began her career in optics and photonics 20 years ago. She is known for turning optical problems into robust, production-ready solutions across diverse industries. At Spire Starter, she consults on challenges in LED illumination, lens and reflector systems, light pipes, IR sensors, and light guides in consumer electronics, agriculture, aerospace, medical, automotive, and industrial sectors. Also known for her technical content on social media (@spirestarter on TikTok) and in tech magazines, Erin shares practical insights in layman’s terms that demystify the complexities of optical engineering and hardware development. She holds a B.S. in Applied Physics and concentration in Applied Optics from Kettering University.

Check out our exciting program and joins us in San Diego this August!

PS: Also remember to submit your attempt at this year’s design challenge by May 4th!

We are very excited to introduce another of our invited speakers for the 2025 conference, Dr. Norbert Danz!

Norbert Danz received a PhD in physics from Freidrich-Schiller University in Jena in 2003. Since that time he has been with the Fraunhofer-Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF. He is active in various fields related to the development and application of micro-optical systems. This includes active organic electronics materials and devices as well as micro-optical system engineering. The latter addresses pattern shaping and projection applications, miniaturized spectroscopy and microscopy, as well as biosensing, thereby covering the optical system design as well as element and system optical characterization and demonstration.

Are you planning to submit a design for our 2025 design competition? Remember that the deadline is coming up on May 4th 2025!

We are deeply saddened to share the news of Professor Emeritus Roland Winston’s passing. He died on February 8, 2025, at the age of 88 at his home in Merced.

Roland Winston transformed solar energy research with his landmark 1966 paper introducing the compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) which served as the basis for the entirely new field of nonimaging optics. His insights fundamentally changed our approach to light collection and concentration, having a lasting impact on solar energy and illumination optics worldwide.

As the founder of this conference series, Professor Winston served as our Chair Emeritus until his passing. His legacy will remain with us and continue to inspire the nonimaging optics community.

Please see the obituary from his university, UC Merced.

Professor Roland Winston with his research team.

Did you want to prepare an abstract for the conference but didn’t have enough time? Great news! The abstract submission deadline has been extended to February 12th, 2025.

This gives you an additional week to finalize and submit your work. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of our twentieth anniversary conference. Check out the call for papers for full details.

We look forward to receiving your abstract and seeing you in San Diego this August!

We are very excited to introduce another of our invited speakers, Dr. William Cassarly!

William Cassarly is a Synopsys Scientist. Before joining Synopsys/ORA, Bill worked at GE and received his Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania. He holds 50 US patents and has worked extensively in illumination system design, sources, photometry, light pipes, and non-imaging optics. Bill was awarded the GE Corporate ‘D. R. Mack Advanced Course Supervisor Award’ for his efforts in the training of GE Engineers, submitted the winning solution to both the 2006 and 2010 IODC Illumination Design Contests, and is an SPIE Fellow.

Abstract deadline is today, Feb 5th 2025! Remember to submit your abstract and join us for this anniversary conference in San Diego in August!

Remember to submit your abstract and join us in San Diego in August!