ITMO University Optical Student Chapter Is One of the Leading Student Chapters in the World

According to Optical Society of America ITMO University Optical Student Chapter is in the Top-3 OSCs in the world. Vladimir Borisov, researcher of ITMO University terahertz medicine lab, will take part in annual Student Leadership Conference on October, 18. Mr. Borisov will present ITMO University Optical Student Chapter`s activities. A winner will be awarded with “OSA Student Chapter Excellence Prize,” a prestigious grant, which is equivalent to $500.

To receive “OSA Student Chapter Excellence Prize” participants have to take part in different meetings and organize research projects during a whole academic year. Apart from Chapter`s activities achievements of its members will be also taken into account. ITMO University Chapter developed a fifteen-page report with research activities developed this year.

“Thanks to the "International Year of Light and lighting technology” program we accomplished a lot of projects. For instance, we took part in opening ceremony of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies in St. Petersburg. We also participated in a variety of OSC meetings. Furthermore our activities become more popular with students,” noted Mr. Borisov.

One of the most noticeable events was “Student Chapter Leadership Meeting,” which brought together more than 20 young opticians from Europe and Asia. ITMO University OSC also initiated “ITMO Days” in Peking University and Huazhong University of Science & Technology in May. Young researchers developed several optical devices such as a laser oscilloscope, special eyeglasses that have diffraction gratings instead of lenses, dynamically lit device called “magic box,” and others. All these invention they present at newcomer festivals, ITMO University doors open days, optical exhibitions in order to interest young researchers in optics. OSC members also initiated student engineering seminars, conferences, and workshops.

Professional credentials of OSC members were also appreciated. According to Mr. Borisov, young specialists try to take part in all large competitions organized by international optical communities. This year ITMO University students received a variety of grants and took part in the most important optical conferences. The most prestigious award was a scholarship of “IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society.”

ITMO University OSC competed with more than 300 promising Chapters from all over the world. Apart from ITMO University OSC, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne`s Chapter and Arizona State University OSC are in Top-3.

“Chapter of Arizona State University is one of the largest OSCs in the world,” said Mr. Borisov. “While ITMO University Chapter consists of 70 members, Arizona`s OSC includes 330 students. This large Chapter is well structured; it has very convenient management system. We also try to develop our departments. Thus we initiate tech support office, which develops equipment for exhibitions; media office, which promotes our activities as well as design office.”

Vladimir Borisov supposes that one of the most important projects is International Photonics School organized by ITMO University OSC, which will be launched at IX Young Researchers` Conference “Optics-2015.”

Ulyana Malysheva

News portal editorial office