European Optical Society

History

Optics in Europe was represented by the European Optical Committee (EOC) until 1984, when the EOC joined the European Physical Society (EPS) to create an Optics Division. The European Federation for Applied Optics – The European Federation for Applied Optics – which was officially registered in Paris in 1987. In December 1986 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between EPS Optics Division), Europtica, and SPIE, in which the three parties agreed to organize a major annual optics meeting in Europe. This MOU initiated the ECO series of meetings, which were managed by the European organization Europtica Services International Communications. The experience with these conferences demonstrated the need for effective organization of optical activities in Europe.

In view of this need, the Board of the Optics Division of EPS unanimously voted in March 1990 to open negotiations with the European Optical Society (EOS). EOS was founded on May 24, 1991.

Aims and mission

In the view of the society, optics as a science , technology , and base for industry , consumer goods , and health care makes a significant contribution to society and has a great potential for further development. The aim of the society is to contribute to progress in the field of optics and related sciences, and to promote their applications to the European and international levels, by bringing together individuals and legal entities involved in these disciplines and their applications.

The EOS serves as the joint forum for all individuals, companies, organizations, educational institutions, and learned societies, which recognizes the opportunity and challenge that a common European provides for the development of optics in its broad sense. With the support of the national optical societies of many European countries, EOS seeks to provide a powerful joint representation for optics in Europe.

Promotion of optics

The EOS works to promote optics and related sciences in the field of information and communication, and by forming a national, European and international lobby for optics and enabling technology of the 21st century, including seeking to influence European R & D policy . It coordinates optics conferences and publications in Europe; supports the dissemination of knowledge about the use and value of optics and related sciences to the general public, industry, media, and on the political level; and for the european professional and learned societies for the collection and dissemination of information, for the coordination of policies, and for joint ventures .

Enhancing professional status

The EOS works to enhance the professional standing of individuals working in optics. It fosters the exchange of students and professionals, and promotes employment in optics throughout Europe. It promotes European educational standards in education, training, and examination at all levels.

Main activities

The EOS organizes topical meetings, workshops and conferences, and endorsement of other scientific events, and runs focus groups for various application fields. It publishes the electronic journal, and other electronic and printed newsletters, offering a virtual platform for the European optics and photonics community on its website. It represents the optics and photonics community on the European-level technology platform Photonics21 . Finally, it awards the annual EOS Prize ^[1] and the ‚EOS Early Career Awards‘ for young photonics innovators. ^[2]

Membership

The EOS today has more than 6,500 societal, corporate, individual, associate and student members from all over Europe and worldwide.

Modes of membership

• Societal membership (national optical societies)
• Individual membership, directly or through an EOS Branch
• Student membership
• Associate membership through an EOS-affiliated society
• Corporate membership, directly or through an EOS Branch or an EOS-affiliated society

Societal members

21 national optical societies are members: 11 are EOS Branches, and 10 are affiliated societies to the EOS. ^[3]

EOS Branches include DGAO (Germany), FOS (Finland), SFO (France), IOP Optical Group (UK and Ireland), LAS (Russia), SSOM (Switzerland), SOS (Sweden), SIOF (Italy), HOS (Hungary) ), LOS (Latvia) and USPAO (Ukraine).

EOS-affiliated societies include NPS-OD (Norway), DOPS (Denmark), Promoptica (Belgium), SEDOPTICA (Spain), SPOF (Portugal), PPS-OD (Poland), DOQE-RPS (Romania), CSSF (Czech and Slovak Republic), WLT (Germany) and ROS (Russia).

Corporate members

38 companies are corporate members of the EOS.

Publications

The EOS publishes the Journal of the European Optical Society: Rapid Publications (JEOS: RP), covering a wide range of research and education in optics and photonics .

References