University of Central Florida College of Optics and Photonics
Encyclopedia
The UCF College of Optics and Photonics is an academic college
of the University of Central Florida
located in Orlando
, Florida
, USA. The dean
of the college is Bahaa E. A. Saleh, Ph.D.
In 2004, UCF's Board of Trustees voted to give UCF's School of Optics and Photonics full college status, making it the first college dedicated specifically to optics
and photonics
at a public university in the United States. The college also the only college at UCF that does not offer any undergraduate programs, only Masters and Doctoral degrees in Optics. The college consists of two divisions: Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL) and Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE). Today, CREOL is an internationally recognized center of excellence for research in a wide range of optics and photonics technologies.
, Florida
-based College of Optics and Photonics, which itself is a graduate
college
for optical science and engineering
at the University of Central Florida
.
As of 2004, it has 42 faculty members and faculty with joint appointments, 58 research scientists and 158 graduate students with research activities covering all aspects of optics
, photonics
, and laser
s.
MJ Soileau began work as the center's first director in January, 1987. He was joined by North Texas State University colleagues Eric Van Stryland and David Hagan. Van Stryland and Hagan would come to serve as Dean and Associate Dean, respectively.
Timeline:
, Florida
-based College of Optics and Photonics, which itself is a graduate
college
for optical science and engineering
at the University of Central Florida
.
The FPCE was established in 2003 with a $10 million grant from the State of Florida
to create a new center of excellence within The College of Optics and Photonics. The focus of the FPCE research and education work is on the technologies of nanophotonics, biophotonics, advanced imaging and 3D displays, and ultra-high bandwidth communications, all of which have forecasts of rapid market growth. Work at the center has resulted in the creation of 31 jobs, and in the filing of 40 patents, of which 14 were issued. As well, the financial return on the $10 million state grant totals over $30 million.
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
of the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
located in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, USA. The dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the college is Bahaa E. A. Saleh, Ph.D.
In 2004, UCF's Board of Trustees voted to give UCF's School of Optics and Photonics full college status, making it the first college dedicated specifically to optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and photonics
Photonics
The science of photonics includes the generation, emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, detection and sensing of light. The term photonics thereby emphasizes that photons are neither particles nor waves — they are different in that they have both particle...
at a public university in the United States. The college also the only college at UCF that does not offer any undergraduate programs, only Masters and Doctoral degrees in Optics. The college consists of two divisions: Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL) and Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE). Today, CREOL is an internationally recognized center of excellence for research in a wide range of optics and photonics technologies.
Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL)
The Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL) is a research center within the OrlandoOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
-based College of Optics and Photonics, which itself is a graduate
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
for optical science and engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
.
As of 2004, it has 42 faculty members and faculty with joint appointments, 58 research scientists and 158 graduate students with research activities covering all aspects of optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
, photonics
Photonics
The science of photonics includes the generation, emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, detection and sensing of light. The term photonics thereby emphasizes that photons are neither particles nor waves — they are different in that they have both particle...
, and laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
s.
History
The idea for a research center dedicated to optics that would support the growth of Florida's high-tech industry began with the formation of the Florida High Technology and Industry Council (FHTIC) in the mid-1980's. In a FHTIC report, Ron Phillips of the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Central Florida (UCF) recommended that the state take action to “form the Center for Research in Electro-Optics and Lasers (CREOL) to provide Florida’s high-tech industries with access to research, students, and faculty in advanced areas of optical and laser sciences.” Following the recommendation, the Florida legislature approved the use of $1.5M in permanent, recurring funds to UCF for the support of CREOL.MJ Soileau began work as the center's first director in January, 1987. He was joined by North Texas State University colleagues Eric Van Stryland and David Hagan. Van Stryland and Hagan would come to serve as Dean and Associate Dean, respectively.
Timeline:
- The Center is founded - 1986
- CREOL building construction starts - 1994
- CREOL building ready for move-in - early 1996
- School of Optics is established - 1999
- The Florida Photonics Center of Excellence is created - 2003
- The School of Optics becomes the College of Optics and Photonics - 2004
Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE)
The Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE) is a research center within the OrlandoOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
-based College of Optics and Photonics, which itself is a graduate
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
for optical science and engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
.
The FPCE was established in 2003 with a $10 million grant from the State of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to create a new center of excellence within The College of Optics and Photonics. The focus of the FPCE research and education work is on the technologies of nanophotonics, biophotonics, advanced imaging and 3D displays, and ultra-high bandwidth communications, all of which have forecasts of rapid market growth. Work at the center has resulted in the creation of 31 jobs, and in the filing of 40 patents, of which 14 were issued. As well, the financial return on the $10 million state grant totals over $30 million.