Optica (formerly known as The Optical Society (OSA) and before that as the Optical Society of America) is a professional society of individuals and companies with an interest in optics and photonics. It publishes journals and organizes conferences and exhibitions. It currently has about 488,000 customers in 183 countries, including nearly 300 companies.
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Founded | 1916 |
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Founder | Perley G. Nutting |
Type | Professional association |
Focus | Optics and photonics |
Location |
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Area served | Worldwide |
Method | Professional journals and conferences |
Members | 22,000 |
Key people | Satoshi Kawata (2022 president) Constance J. Chang-Hasnain (2021 president) Stephen D. Fantone (2020 president) Elizabeth A. Rogan (CEO) |
Revenue | $49,549,907[1][2] |
Endowment | $74,991,615 |
Employees | 150 |
Website | optica |
Optica was founded in 1916 as the "Optical Society of America", under the leadership of Perley G. Nutting,[3] with 30 optical scientists and instrument makers based in Rochester, New York. It soon published its first journal of research results and established an annual meeting.[4][5] The first local section was established in Rochester, New York, in 1916 and the Journal of the Optical Society of America was created in 1918.[5] The first series of joint meetings with the American Physical Society was in 1918.[5] In 2008 it changed its name to The Optical Society (OSA).[6] In September 2021, the organization's name changed to Optica, which references the organization's journal and is geographically neutral in order to reflect the global membership of the society.[7]
The society publishes a number of journals and a magazine.
Optica presents awards and honors, including Optica Fellow, Honorary Membership, and Awards/Medals. Optica's awards and medals program is endowed through the Optica Foundation, and includes more than 20 named awards; among them are the following:[10]
The following persons are or have been presidents of the society:[11]
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