Arctic Optica Student Chapter

🌟 Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists! 🌟

Today, we hosted Inspiration Day, an event dedicated to inspiring girls to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. 🎉 The event had two parts, starting with an engaging presentation by Jehona Salaj, president of the Arctic Optica student chapter, where she debunked common myths about studying STEM:

🔹 Myth 1: “Ever since I was a child, I loved…”
Reality: Childhood memories aren’t always about knowing exactly what you’ll become! Most kids are curious, not just future scientists. Look back—you might find curiosity in unexpected moments.

🔹 Myth 2: “You have to be a good student!”
Reality: More important is being a lifelong child at heart, always curious and ready to learn. Challenges and failures make the journey richer.

🔹 Myth 3: “You have to be good at math!”
Reality: There are many fields where you can thrive in science without being a math whiz. Your skills can grow with time and the right teaching.

🔹 Myth 4: “There’s no beauty in science!”
Reality: Science holds incredible beauty, from NASA’s images to elegant experiments. If you’re drawn to aesthetics, you’ll find your scientific niche.

🔹 Myth 5: “STEM careers make people lonely!”
Reality: Scientists are just like everyone else—socializing, having fun, and finding balance between work and life.

🔹 Myth 6: “STEM is not for women!”
Reality: Your gender, identity, or background has no bearing on your ability to do science. 🔬✨

In the second part, the girls got hands-on experience, exploring optical phenomena with simple but exciting experiments like polarization, refraction, and fluorescence. Led by Jehona and Roman Zakoldaev, they tried optical fibers, convergent lenses, and even self-built microscopes. One student thrilled her friends by sending a laser message through an optical fiber, while others were fascinated by microscopes and UV light experiments.

The enthusiasm and curiosity we saw today were inspiring! 💡 We hope today’s event will spark a lifelong passion for STEM in these young minds. Thank you to everyone who helped make Inspiration Day a success!



Image credit: https://xkcd.com/385/

📣 Event Recap: Optica Ambassadors Visit

Yesterday, we had the privilege of welcoming two remarkable Optica Ambassadors, Richard Zeltner and Alessandra Carmichael-Martins, to our university! They each brought valuable insights and shared their unique experiences in the fields of photonics and academia.

🌟 Richard Zeltner presented on "Misconceptions and Insights: Advice from 11 Years in Photonics." He challenged common myths about careers in the industrial sector, emphasizing that it's full of exciting opportunities and diverse roles. His advice encouraged students to focus on skill development, be open to non-linear career paths, and align with teams and projects that share their values.

🌟 Alessandra Carmichael-Martins delivered an engaging talk on "Navigating Academia After Your PhD." Her presentation offered practical advice on choosing postdoc positions, securing various types of research grants, and managing the unique challenges of an academic career. Alessandra’s insights on independence, mobility, and mental health in academia resonated with everyone.

This visit was a great opportunity for our students to connect with inspiring leaders in optics and photonics. Thank you, Richard and Alessandra, for an unforgettable session! 🌈

🚨 Join Us at Arctic Optica on October 28th! 🚨

We’re excited to host two 2022 Optica Ambassadors for a day of inspiration and knowledge-sharing! 🌍💡 They’ll discuss their career paths in optics and photonics, covering everything from transitioning between academia and industry, to securing grants, and building supportive networks.

Whether you're a student, researcher, or just passionate about science, this is a unique opportunity to engage and learn from leaders in the field. Don't miss out!

📅 Register now: https://site.uit.no/arcticoptica/?p=376

We invite all the students, PhD students, and postdocs in Norway to submit their entries to our image contest. The images need to be related to optics and can be acquired during your studies, work, or hobby.
https://forms.gle/ieSmgUwnbd2LoJ3W9

Arctic Optica Student Chapter at Forskningdagene 2023 showcasing experiments based on energy theme. It was a great experience dessimenating science to public.

The winner of the Image Contest has been selected

Image Contest 2022 – Winner Selected – Arctic Optica Image Contest 2022 – Winner Selected by jehona · 29/11/2022 Arctic Optica Student Chapter organized the Image Contest 2022. We were pleased to receive several interesting submissions from members and non-members. Below you can see the submissions: OpticaChapter – Sathi Das – These two scannin...

Applications are open for the 2023 Siegman School - http://ow.ly/sC7t50LGkRT

Students, advance your career in laser science with a week-long program hearing from experts in the field, leading laser companies and your peers!

Trinity College Dublin DCU

Are you a graduate student thinking about continuing or pursuing ?

Join the ICFO Carla Camp on 01 December for two days of panels, workshops and other activities about career opportunities in photonics - http://ow.ly/A67y50LGbRN

is pleased to sponsor a special webinar on 28 November at 20:00 EST featuring a conversation between Prof. John Bowers (UC Santa Barbara), a renowned expert in integrated photonics, and one of his former students, Prof. Lin Chang (Peking University).

During this insightful interview, Prof. Bowers will discuss his career path, technology transfer, work-life balance and share his advice for young researchers.

Register now: http://ow.ly/f1E850LJVOr

Don't forget to send your image!