The Stanford Photonics Research Center

May 5, 2007

Stanford University OSA Student Chapter Awarded Educational Outreach Grant

The Optical Society of America Foundation (OSAF) is pleased to announce that the Stanford University OSA Student Chapter has been awarded an Educational Outreach Grant in support of their efforts to construct educational modules (displays/demos) and their new optics-themed photo contest. Some of the experiments they are designing will explore flourescence, colors of polarization and changing light to sound. These modules will be added the Chapter’s existing demonstrations used during outreach events. Additionally, the grant will allow the chapter to print and display the winners of their photo contests at the San Jose Tech Museum (400,000 visitors annually).

OSA Student Chapters work closely with community schools and local community groups designing programs that include hands-on demonstrations, teacher guides, lesson plans, lab tours, mentoring programs, and much more. These programs take place throughout the year in countries around the globe.

Advancing youth science education is also a priority area of the OSA Foundation. Each year it funds annual Education Outreach Grants to support the work of chapters and sections. In 2007, forty-one grants were awarded.

To learn more about the Stanford University outreach program and the volunteer activities of its members please contact Meredith M Lee, at mmlee@stanford.edu or 650-725-6970. If you are interested in more information about the OSA Foundation grant programs and volunteer opportunities, visit: www.osa-foundation.org, or contact: Meredith Schipani-Smith (telephone: 202.416.1421, email: Foundation@osa.org).

About the OSA Foundation

The OSA Foundation was established in 2002 to support philanthropic activities that help further the Optical Society of America’s mission by concentrating its efforts on programs that advance youth science education, support optics and photonics in developing nations, provide education and resources to underserved populations and support OSA’s Awards and Honors program. The grants funded by the OSA Foundation are made possible by the generous donations of its supporters as well as the dollar-for-dollar match by OSA. The Foundation is exempt from U.S. federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a public charity. To learn more about the OSA Foundation or to find out how to donate, please visit www.osa-foundation.org or email foundation@osa.org.

About OSA
Uniting more than 70,000 professionals from 134 countries, the Optical Society of America (OSA) brings together the global optics community through its programs and initiatives. Since 1916 OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing educational resources to the scientists, engineers and business leaders who work in the field by promoting the science of light and the advanced technologies made possible by optics and photonics. OSA publications, events, technical groups and programs foster optics knowledge and scientific collaboration among all those with an interest in optics and photonics. For more information, visit www.osa.org.