Apr 5 2016
The Optical Society, the leading global professional association in optics and photonics, is pleased to announce its participation in the 4th USA Science & Engineering Festival, the first and only national science festival. To educate and empower youth to take up an interest in optics and photonics, the society will have an interactive booth at the biannual festival, which will be held on 16-17 April 2016 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
“One of the priorities of The Optical Society is to shape the future of science and discovery by inspiring the next generation of scientists,” said Elizabeth Rogan, CEO of The Optical Society. “Participating in the USA Science & Engineering Festival is a perfect way to engage energetic young men and women who will ultimately fuel future discoveries in the science of light and other fields.”
The Optical Society, in collaboration with the American Institute of Physics, American Astronomical Society, The Acoustical Society of America and Physics Today, will take part in the festival’s “Big Top Physics” at booth #5501. In honor of its 100th anniversary, The Optical Society will feature an exhibit celebrating the society’s legacy of scientific progress and innovation, as well as an engaging “Light Paint Booth,” where participants will be able to create and take home their own optics-infused artwork.
The Optical Society’s special Centennial booth will be a great resource for all attendees interested in the various applications of optics to our daily lives, as well as the evolution of the field since the society’s founding 100 years ago. From the accomplishments of the society’s 34 Nobel Prize winners to the evolution of the Internet over fiber-optic cables, the booth promises to teach something new to all hungry young learners.
With more than 1,000 leading science organizations from around the world participating, the festival is expected to have more than 350,000 visitors this year. Visitors to The Optical Society’s booth will receive fun optics-related toys and giveaways, while also learning about the society’s “Explore Optics Kit” and “Optics Suitcase” – educational tools aimed at inspiring students to discover the science of light.
In addition to the two-day expo, the festival will feature an “X-STEM Symposium” with TED-style talks from a range of scientific visionaries, as well as a “Sneak Peak Friday” on 15 April to allow the media, military families and K-12 school groups a chance to enjoy the thousands of enriching exhibits before the general public.