LIGHTtalks 2017
ICFO, in collaboration with the UB, organized the 2nd edition of LIGHTtalks: Careers in Photonics addressed to university students and general public.
November 21, 2017
On November 21st, ICFO in collaboration with the University of Barcelona, organized the 2nd edition of LIGHTtalks: Careers in Photonics. Held at the Physics Faculty of the University of Barcelona and targeting an audience of university students, the event aimed to raise awareness about the ubiquity of photonics in our daily lives as well as acquaint participants with the different career paths that one can pursue in the world of photonics.
The event was introduced and moderated by Dr. Silvia Carrasco, Director of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Unit (KTT) at ICFO. The first talk was given by Dr. Robert Sewell, coordinator of Academic Affairs at ICFO. Dr. Sewell offered an introduction to the science of light and light-based technologies, how it affects our everyday lives, how transversal it actually is, and how it is implemented within the multidisciplinary research conducted at the institute.
Subsequently, a panel of nine professionals, all with very different profiles, were invited to explain their backgrounds, training and experiences within the field. Each explained from very different perspectives how they came to work in photonics and what type of work they carry out in their daily jobs. Panellists included a scientist, an entrepreneur, a businessperson, a manager, a lawyer, a communications officer and an engineer, among others.
The event ended with an informal luncheon where students were able to network with all the panellists, acquiring useful information for their future endeavours. As one of the students summarized, “what I enjoyed most was the diversity of the backgrounds presented, as well as the possibility to talk with all the speakers in a comfortable atmosphere”.
The event was introduced and moderated by Dr. Silvia Carrasco, Director of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Unit (KTT) at ICFO. The first talk was given by Dr. Robert Sewell, coordinator of Academic Affairs at ICFO. Dr. Sewell offered an introduction to the science of light and light-based technologies, how it affects our everyday lives, how transversal it actually is, and how it is implemented within the multidisciplinary research conducted at the institute.
Subsequently, a panel of nine professionals, all with very different profiles, were invited to explain their backgrounds, training and experiences within the field. Each explained from very different perspectives how they came to work in photonics and what type of work they carry out in their daily jobs. Panellists included a scientist, an entrepreneur, a businessperson, a manager, a lawyer, a communications officer and an engineer, among others.
The event ended with an informal luncheon where students were able to network with all the panellists, acquiring useful information for their future endeavours. As one of the students summarized, “what I enjoyed most was the diversity of the backgrounds presented, as well as the possibility to talk with all the speakers in a comfortable atmosphere”.