SPIE – Research and outreach abroad

Building communities

SPIE Photonics West 2018 felt incredibly busy, and other attendees I have spoken to share the sentiment. I look back on the conference with the feeling that the professional optics and photonics community is vibrant and keen to engage on many levels.

My week started with a presentation for the SPIE Students Meeting. I presented my experiences as a committee member, president and mentor of the University of Southampton’s Optics and Photonics Society. It was really precious to reflect on my journey amongst a growing and dynamic local student network, through which I have thrived personally and professionally. I am grateful to have been able to share my experiences with a global student community and have the opportunity to meet with peers.

Team building at the hardest Escape Room in the USA with SEaCarP committee and guests — Team building at the hardest Escape Room in the USA, with SPIE 2018 SEaCarP committee and guests.

I have joined two SPIE committees in 2018, namely the SPIE Education Committee and Student and Early Career Professional ad hoc Committee. I feel privileged to be part of active discussions and have the opportunity to contribute to guiding the SPIE’s mission. I am excited to be taking part in projects that will be looking to enhance the society’s education endeavours and the participation of student and early career professionals (SEaCarP). As part of my Education “duties” I am working with a smaller sub-committee towards better understanding the impact that the society’s members have through their dedication to outreach and public engagement programs. SEaCarP discussions have focused on enhancing the member experience of early career professionals. If you would like to get in touch to discuss these projects, drop by my LinkedIn profile to talk some more.

This international meeting was a fantastic forum to contextualise my professional and personal development experiences. It has given me the space to ask questions and actively listen to colleagues and friends engaging with the community. It is also great to see familiar faces again and catch up on people’s progress in their work and careers.

You’ll hear more from me at least by August, where I will be in San Diego for the 2018 SPIE Optics + Photonics congress. Bye for now.

Thanks to Vahan Malkhasyan for the picture that was used as the featured image in this post.

A week at Photonics West

🎵 If you’re going to San Francisco 🎵

I’ve been humming Scott McKenzie’s lyrics for a couple of months now, as I have been planning and preparing my trip to the SPIE Photonics West congress that will be held in San Francisco from Jan. 26th to Feb. 1st. This is the first time that I will attend this conference and needless to say that I am incredibly excited to be travelling back to North America to “the world’s largest photonics technologies event”.

For all SPIE students out there, I will be giving a talk at the Student Chapter Meeting on Sun. 28th Jan called “Building your mentorship toolkit through your student chapter”. Beware, you need to register by Friday, 19 January to attend! See the schedule below for more information.

SPIE Student and Early Career Professional Committee 2018.

I have joined 2 committees of the SPIE, A.K.A the international society for optics and photonics. I will be part of their Education committee and help guide the society in its mission in developing and delivering Education activities worldwide. I am also delighted to join the SEaCarP ad hoc committee (this maritime acronym stands for “Student and Early Career Professional”) with officers whose reputation precedes them. I’m excited to meet or see them again again in San Francisco. I want to take the opportunity to thank SPIE for the Student and Early Career Professional ad hoc Committee member travel grant offered to me to attend Photonics West 2018, as well as their help in the organisation of this trip.

I will be around at technical talks and the trade show throughout the week. I’ve posted my abridged non-technical schedule below, which has lots of times when it might be convenient to meet! If you want to catch up then drop me a message on LinkedIn, Facebook or Whatsapp.

“Where is Matt?”

Abridged non-technical schedule

Sunday 28th Jan

Student Chapter Meeting, Sun. 28th Jan, 18:00-21:00, with my talk “Building your mentorship toolkit through your student chapter”. Registration required at students@spie.org by Friday 19 January!

Monday 29th Jan

Essential Skills for a Career in Industry by David Giltner of Turning Science, 13:30-17:30, Intercontinental Hotel. No registration required, but get there early to avoid disappointment!
Women in Optics and Diversity Inclusion Program and Reception, 17:00-19:00, Intercontinental Hotel. Details here.
SPIE Careers Lab Meet-up, 21:00, The Chieftain, 198 5th St.

Join me, moderators and members of the SPIE Career Lab on Monday night!

Tuesday 30th Jan

“How Global Investment is Bringing Quantum Technologies to the Marketplace”, 8:30-9:45, Moscone Centre, Room 21 (North Exhibit Level).
SPIE After-dinner Member Reception, 20:00-21:30, Hilton Union Square, Cityscape Lounge (SPIE Members only).

Wednesday 31st Jan

Early Career Networking breakfast, Moscone Centre, Room 2000. Registration at earlycareer@spie.org

Career crafting

Happy International Women’s Day!

On Wednesday 8th March I travelled to the University of Exeter for a workshop organised by their Optics and Photonics society. They hosted an event called “Scientists and Engineers Can Do Anything: How to Create Your Dream Career” with, as a special guest all the way from the USA, SPIE visiting lecturer Alaina Levine. I was invited as part of a delegation from the University of Southampton’s Optics and Photonics Society. Thanks to the team in Exeter for the invitation and for letting me use their pictures in this post.

Alaina Levine signing her latest book "Networking for Nerds". — Alaina Levine signing her latest book “Networking for Nerds”.

The day consisted of a series of talks to develop networking and communication skills, with an emphasis on why these are important to build one’s career. Alaina covered a wide range of topics ranging from entrepreneurial to science-communication careers, illustrated by an colourful collection of personal stories. I particularly enjoyed the first session that focused on international job search. Finding a job abroad may seem like a painful experience. Her advice was to commit to the cause and show you’re invested into making it happen. It’s important to look out for opportunities, keep informed on who is growing and hiring. Google News Alerts and job adverts are useful tools; networks are essential to uncover many more unknown or hidden opportunities!

Networking with students from the University of Exeter's Optics and Photonics Society, comprised of an SPIE student chapter. — Networking with students from the University of Exeter’s Optics and Photonics Society, comprised of an SPIE student chapter.

A career in North America is something I am excited about, and this workshop was a motivation booster. My PhD is coming to an end and a move is going to happen in the near future. It is refreshing to hear that all it takes is creativity, courage and hard work, a set of skills that I wish will see me through to the end of my studies!

Volunteering for leadership

Last week I attended a Student Leadership Workshop in the sunny town of San Diego, California. Over 240 students from over 30 different countries congregated at a large international meeting called Optics + Photonics that was organised by the SPIE. I had the pleasure to meet students at various stages of their education (both undergraduate and postgraduate), conference organisers, workers in universities and in private companies. The workshop was run by a very well-spoken gentleman, Jean-Luc Doumont, and over the course of the day explored the theme of leadership through group activities, presentations and role plays.

SPIE 2016 Student Leadership Conference. Picture credit SPIE Students.

At the start of the day 26 groups set about a creative brainstorm, half on what a leader is and the remainder on what a leader is not. My group quickly decided that a good leader is not indecisive. Indecisiveness is second nature to me, so it was uncomfortable to hear a lot of valid reasons of how my leading ability could be hindered by my personality. We discussed this a lot, and I found that one could become decisive through listening and asking questions: to make informed decisions, and strive to clearly communicate ideas and visions for a group to steer itself through a process. Being indecisive, listening and asking questions are three things I can do very well, I would like to think. I must practice to balance these for the sake of productivity!

A good leader is NOT indecisive; a morning well spent at the 2016 SPIE student leadership workshop. — A good leader is NOT indecisive: a morning well spent at the 2016 SPIE student leadership workshop.

“Leader-ship”. 2 words: leader and ship. Why would one take the responsibility to lead a ship? I have met people who think they are the best for the role, and some who feel a duty to step into the leader’s shoes simply because someone must. Someone at the workshop said that people volunteer to lead, and I can agree with that statement from my humble experience. I volunteered to take the reins of the Optics and Photonics Society (OPSoc), and I volunteered to attend this workshop in San Diego. In return, the SPIE supported me through a travel grant, and the OPSoc gave me access to a wonderful community of people that like to get together (preferably in a sunny place!). “Leaders coming together” feels to me like a chore; “volunteers coming together” feels much richer. My leadership roles have taken me to some incredible places and my path has crossed those of some incredible people. I will continue to make the time to volunteer; there, I’ve said it and so please hold me accountable to it.