Three Rivers Students Attend SPIE Annual Meeting in San Diego

Three Rivers SPIE Student Chapter President Derek Tourangeau (Waterford), Treasurer Debra Seagraves (Plainfield) and member Tom Rogers (Woodstock) attended the Optics and Photonics conference of SPIE, the international society of optics and photonics, in San Diego, CA during the first week in August. The TRCC students joined approximately SPIE student chapter leaders from colleges and universities around the world. Travel and most accommodations for the Three Rivers students were provided by a grant from SPIE.

On Saturday August 1, the Three Rivers students joined peers from around the globe at a day-long leadership workshop to learn how to create and sustain an SPIE Student Chapter. They exchanged ideas about how to motivate colleagues at their respective colleges and universities to participate in outreach and professional development activities. Students were also invited to attend sessions on the state of optics/photonics technology and career planning as well as luncheons with SPIE directors and optics experts. Joined by SPIE member Matt Donnelly from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY), the students assisted at an afternoon workshop for optics professionals facilitated by Three Rivers professor Judy Donnelly. Instructor and students showed eight "optics magic" appealing to middle school students including a "disappearing beaker", gelatin optics and polarized light art. The TRCC students also manned a Three Rivers Student Chapter table at the Optics and Photonics industry exhibition, which allowed further interaction with industry attendees.

According to Seagraves, "The leadership workshop is a great opportunity to meet people from all over the globe and get new ideas for personal, school and career situations we all face. After seeing all the exhibits I was amazed how far technology has come and how many different fields we can pursue. I have to say it also surprised me how hard they worked to make it a good experience for students. They did a good job making us feel welcome and also using fun activities to help everyone work together. I am so thankful I could be a part of it. It was a great opportunity." Tourangeau commented, "(The Student Leadership workshop) taught me new ways to encourage students to join my chapter and gave me some new tools for being a good leader. I also attended the Professional Development workshop where I learned skills to aid me in the workplace. After that, I attended the exhibit spending much time greeting visitors at my college's table. All of these activities gave me the opportunity to make lifetime contacts in the optics community."

8/12/09

Derek Tourangeau, Debra Seagraves and Tom Rogers at the Three Rivers table in the Optics and Photonics Exhibition, San Diego Convention Center	Derek Tourangeau, Matt Donnelly, Judy Donnelly, Debra Seagraves and Tom Rogers after the Optics Magic workshop.