Optical Society Of America Announces 20 Recipients

On March 12, the Optica (formerly Optical Society of America, OSA) Foundation named 20 recipients of its 2024 awards and medals. The awards recognize leaders in photonics for their technical, research, education, business, leadership and service achievements.
Gerd Leuchs, then Optica President, said, "Congratulations to the 2024 Optica Award and Medal recipients, whose leadership, vision and extraordinary contributions have taken our field to new heights. In addition, I would like to thank my colleagues for their dedication in nominating candidates, submitting letters of recommendation, and serving as members of the Awards Selection Committee. Your support of this program is greatly appreciated."
Optica is a society dedicated to advancing the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of optics and photonics worldwide. Founded in 1916, it is the premier organization bringing together scientists, engineers, business professionals, students, and light science enthusiasts.Optica's renowned publications, conferences, online resources, and face-to-face events accelerate scientific, technical, and educational achievement.
The 20 honorees in photonics are:
Esther Hoffman Baylor Medal.
Anurag Sharma, Indian Institute of Technology
For outstanding contributions to teaching, research and leadership in optics and photonics, and for creating India's first dedicated center for optics and photonics at IIT Delhi.
Max Bourne Award
Andrea Alù, City University of New York, USA
For seminal contributions to linear, nonlinear and nonreciprocal photonic metamaterials
Stephen D. Fantone Distinguished Service Award
Joseph Mait, USA
For his decades of professional service and leadership in several Optica programs, including the introduction of an innovative program to support diversity, equity, and inclusion awareness processes for Optica publications and conferences
Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award
Zhongping Chen, University of California, Irvine, USA
Awarded for pioneering research, development, and clinical translation of Doppler optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, OCT elastography, and multimodal intravascular imaging
Joseph Fraunhofer Award/Robert M. Burley Award
Carmen Menoni, Colorado State University, USA
For pioneering contributions to the materials aspects and engineering of optically coated amorphous oxides for high intensity lasers and gravitational wave detectors.
Nick Holonyak Jr. Award
Theodore D. Moustakas, Boston University, USA
For seminal contributions to nitride semiconductor materials and optics that laid the groundwork for the development of blue and UV led's
Robert Hopkins Leadership Award
Kramer Akli, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science
For his leadership and vision in establishing North America's first high-intensity laser research network, providing students and scientists around the world with state-of-the-art high-power laser experimental facilities and photonic technologies
DeWayne Rand Award (in conjunction with the Society for Imaging Science and Technology)
Rama Chellappa, Johns Hopkins University, USA
For seminal contributions to the theory and practice of image/video processing and computer vision, and for inventions, technologies, and systems that have improved the lives of many people around the world
Sang Soo Lee Award (jointly with the Korean Optical Society)
Boon Ooi, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
For his pioneering contributions to the field of optoelectronic devices and systems and for advancing the field of optics and photonics in Saudi Arabia
Emmett N. Leith Medal
Ting-Chung Poon, Virginia Tech, USA
For seminal contributions to digital holography and optical information processing
Ellis R. Lippincott Award (jointly with the Koblenz Society and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy)
Steven Boxer, Stanford University, USA
Awarded for his development of vibrational Stark spectroscopy, a revolutionary tool for understanding molecular interactions at a fundamental level, and its application to enzyme catalysis, answering the centuries-old question of how enzymes work
Adolph Lamb Medal
Deep Jariwala, University of Pennsylvania, USA
Awarded for seminal contributions to the development of nanophotonics and excitonic metamaterials for low-dimensional semiconductors
C.E.K. Meese Medal
Naomi Halas, Rice University, USA
Awarded for her design, fabrication, and demonstration of nanoparticles with specific optical and physical properties, whose wide range of applications have led to advances in fields such as cancer therapy, water safety, and light-driven chemistry
William F. Meggers Award
Naomi Halas, Rice University, USA
For her design, fabrication, and demonstration of nanoparticles with specific optical and physical properties whose broad applications have led to advances in fields such as cancer therapy, water safety, and light-driven chemistry.
David Richardson Medal
Radhakrishnan Nagarajan, Marvell Semiconductor Inc., USA
Awarded for successful fabrication and commercialization of InP and si-based photonic integrated circuits for optical interconnects in a wide range of applications
Kevin P. Thompson Optical Design Innovation Award
Samuel Steven, Apple Inc., U.S.A.
Awarded for introducing nodal aberration theory into the design of ophthalmic imaging instruments, popularizing the Alvarez lens, and enabling adjustable correction of chromatic aberration
Edgar D. Tillyer Award
Gordon Legge, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA
Awarded for revolutionizing the field of low vision research and applying this knowledge to assist and improve the reading and mobility of people with low vision
Charles Harder Towns Medal
Franco Nori, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Japan, University of Michigan, USA
Awarded for his many fundamental contributions to quantum optics, quantum information processing and quantum circuits, and the development of key quantum software tools
Optica Treasurer's Award
Nathaniel (Nate) Jones, Optica, USA
Awarded in recognition of his outstanding contributions to maintaining Optica's headquarters and his invaluable support of staff in a variety of projects ranging from meeting scheduling to package delivery.
R. W. Wood Award
Rick Trebino, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
For his invention and development of more complete and rigorous techniques for the measurement of ultrashort optical pulses, which have led to a wide range of new applications in many fields.