University Of Alberta Student Chapter 2008-2009 Annual Report
Foreword The 2008-2009 year was started with a completely different group of Under-graduates. The year before had been plagued with illness in the executive, time demands on the remaining executive left them with little time to perform their duties. The year began with the new executive being voted in at the late election held in November 2009. President Travis Jensen, Vice President Pouya Maraghechi, Treasurer Navid Vafaei and Secretary Matthew Sederberg were set to lead the Chapter for the remainder of the year. Continuing on with previous year s activities, the UofA SPIE offered lab tours of Dr.Decorby s Optical Communications Lab, and Dr. Tulip s Lab, as well as a presentation by Dr Robert Fedosejevs Laser Nuclear Fusion Research. Selective members of the UofA SPIE Student Chapter also took upon a Laser Harp design project. Finally the year-end election was help in April and the executive duties were passed to President Travis Jensen, Vice-President David Sloan, Treasurer Christopher Smith, and Secretary Pouya Maraghechi. This report will summarize the November 2008 to April 2009 activities of the UofA SPIE Student Chapter, and outline goals for the next semester. Travis Jensen President, UofA SPIE Student Chapter Promotion SPIE Info Night Recruitment for the 2008-2009 year began with an SPIE Info Night. Held in November it featured a presentation by Dr Robert Fedosejevs on his Laser Nuclear Fusion Research it was very interesting and all who intended enjoyed the presentation. The remainder of the evening was a mix and mingle session with pizza and pop provided by the chapter. The turnout was an estimated 30 students who showed interest in SPIE, its events and its projects. Non-SPIE members were encouraged to provide their emails and of the students who did so three joined SPIE. 1st Year ECE Information Night Wide-eyed newcomers were not excluded. At the 1st year Electrical and Computer Engineering information night SPIE members set up a table and chatted with prospective Electrical, Computer and Engineering Physics Students. A display was set up at the table having a few different lasers as well as a simple LED controller setup as a demonstration in optics. The Student Chapter Members also discussed the benefits and opportunities involved with joining SPIE.
Lab Tours Dr Ray DeCorby s Photonics and Plasmas (Feb 2009)Dr. Decorby led the tour and talked about the major advances that have taken place in the field of optics in the communication industry. This included chip to chip communication as well as possible on chip communications using waveguides. Dr John Tulip s Lab (Mar 2009)Dr. Tulip led the tour and discussed his research in gas and particle research as well as talked about the biomedical research he is involved in. The tour was very interesting and the chapter will continue to keep in contact with Dr. Tulip as he has exciting grad student opportunities. Guest Speakers Dr. Robert Fedosejevs Dr. Fedesejevs is among the world leaders in the area of fusion energy research. He is a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta. Dr Fedosejevs has over 30 years experience in the development of laser systems and their applications in various areas including sensor systems, micromachining, thin film coatings, studies in ultrafast phenomena, the generation of XUV and soft x-ray radiation for lithography applications and fusion energy research. He presented his research at a SPIE information session held at the University of Alberta. His talk included the process of fusion ignition using inertial confinement a process performed by using high-energy beams of laser light. His presentation also included points about the present state of the planets energy consumption and the future of renewable energy. Laser Harp Project This year, various members of the U of A SPIE Student Chapter began designing a laser harp. The project was started in late march and the electronic component of the harp is close to completion. The harp is to be roughly the size of a real harp. There will be 10-12 lasers as well as photoelectric sensors to play each note.
SPIE Univ. of Alberta Student Chapter (Christopher Smith) Financial summary 2009 January to April Date item Bank money Recievable Payable 19-Jan-09 03-Mar-09 SPIE HQ payment to chapter $1,043.50 1043.5 Repay Travis for microwave, whiteboard, speakers, info night pizza -$207.68 $207.68 02-Apr-09 Pop for election night -$8.59 $8.59 02-Apr-09 Pizza for election night -$70.43 $70.43 07-Apr-09 23-Apr-09 29-Apr-09 Pay back Wayne for lasers. -$25.20 $25.20 Pay back Navid for past expenses -$273.00 $273.00 Pay back David for parts and material for Laser Harp -$196.89 $196.89 To date Bank Interest $0.24 Sum Year 2009 $931.04 $1,043.50 $781.79 Total Expenses for current year Total Revenue Current Capita $781.79 $931.04
2009-2010 Goals The chapter has many objectives for the following year. President Travis Jensen, and Vice-President David Sloan will be attending Optics and Photonics in San Diego August 1-6. They will use the knowledge from the conference to lead the chapter into the next year. The chapter as a whole will strive to schedule at least a lab tour or guest speaker every month of the school year. It will also arrange a visiting lecturer to visit in the winter semester. The chapter will also look for outreach opportunities to promote Optics and Photonics. University of Alberta SPIE Student Chapter Members Sabbir Ahmed Ahsan Alam Erich Andersen Kevin Backus Corey Baron Zhijiang Chen Ahmed Elsafi Hal Friesen Brandon Goy Tate Hauger Travis Jensen Steven Jim Stephen Keim Philippe Laroche Pouya Maraghechi Ashok Prabhu Masilamani Steven Melenchuk Patrick Pilarski Ian Pollock Aric Proskurniak Travis Schoepp Matthew Sederberg Dan Sirbu David Sloan Kent Small Christopher Smith Locke Spencer Cameron Straatsma Michael Thomas Alan Tsay Navid Vafaei-Najafabadi Wayne Viegas
2009-2010 Chapter Executives Mr. Travis Jensen- President Mr. David Sloan- Vice President Mr. Christopher Smith- Treasurer Mr. Pouya Maraghechi- Secretary Faculty Advisor Dr Abdulhakem Elezzabi UofA SPIE Student Chapter University of Alberta ECERF Level 2 Edmonton, AB T6G-2V4 Canada www.ece.ualberta.ca spieuofa@ece.ualberta.ca