The University of New Mexico’s Optical Science and Engineering program recently marked its 40th anniversary with a series of events celebrating its contributions to the field of optics. The program, jointly administered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, offers graduate degrees in optical science, photonics, quantum optics, and imaging.
Daniel Feezell, professor and general chair of the OSE Program, highlighted the uniqueness of the program, stating, “The OSE Program is unique because it is a cross-college interdisciplinary program, administered by departments in the School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences. That brings a real interdisciplinary flavor to our program.”
Ganesh Balakrishnan, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a former Ph.D. graduate of the OSE Program, praised the program's impact on New Mexico, describing it as a "terrarium, a self-contained ecosystem, in Albuquerque."
The program's influence extends beyond academia, with faculty members having developed 209 patents and contributed to the creation of 12 start-ups, resulting in $42 million in license income for the University. Elizabeth Kuutila, CEO of UNM Rainforest Innovations, emphasized the significance of these inventions in driving economic growth and benefiting the public.
Maria Lane, UNM dean of academic programs, highlighted the OSE Program's success in student recruitment, job placement, and potential for continued growth, as noted in a recent academic review.
Alumni of the program, such as Scott Diddams, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, showcased the program's lasting impact. Diddams, who studied Optical Science at UNM in the 1990s, credited the program for launching his career and expressed gratitude for the knowledge he gained during his time at UNM.
The OSE program, founded in 1983, postponed its 40th-anniversary celebration by one year following the passing of Mansoor Sheik-Bahae, its longtime chair. The event honored the program's dedication to academic and research excellence over the past four decades.
