CLEO offers both formal and informal networking opportunties through more than 15 special events. Search by program type or date. Note that some events require that you R.S.V.P. in advance.
Poster Sessions & Lunch in Exhibit Hall
Complimentary lunch service is provided each day in the exhibit hall during the Poster Sessions — offering more networking opportunities.
Poster Sessions are an integral part of the Technical program. Each author is provided with a Vertical poster board with six-foot-high by four-foot-wide (182cm x121cm) of usable space on which to display the summary and results of his or her paper.
Authors should remain in the vicinity of their presentation board for the duration of the sessions to answer questions from attendees. Authors may set up one hour prior to their assigned session and must remove their poster one hour following the session. Authors may submit their poster PDF to
cstech@osa.org for publication.
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Cheeky Scientist Career Development Workshops - Session 1: The Modern Job Search
Instructor: Isaiah Hankel, Cheeky Scientist, USA
Isaiah Hankel works with hundreds of graduate students and postdocs daily assisting them to transition to industry by first showing them how to present themselves as business professionals. These programs will provide you with a strong understanding of what it takes to have a tailored industry resume and how to showcase your transferrable skills.
Using online profiles to maximize the effectiveness of the job seeking/transition process. Hiring managers use LinkedIn to determine whether they will bring in a candidate for an interview, this topic will cover all the key elements of the LinkedIn profile and how each section should be used to strategically maximize its impact. In addition, we will show candidates how to use LinkedIn algorithms to support their job search, and sell themselves to perspective employers.
Workshops are complimentary for OSA Members.
Hosted by: 
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OIDA Executive Forum on the Exploding Role of Optics in Sensing
The Executive Forum‐style event aims to match applications leaders needing new solutions with early‐stage technologies in a range of sectors, spanning consumer to industrial markets. While the ultimate activity is “matchmaking” the emphasis will be on the end‐product vendors’ needs and investor perspectives. The workshop will focus on segments within the field that have particular promise today, such as mobility and automation, Big Data and AI, and manufacturing issues related to these products. Some key questions for discussion will be:
- What is needed from the photonics industry? Which are the problems that optics and photonics can have the greatest impact on?
- What are the enabling technologies that have the most promise?
- What are the bottlenecks or “showstoppers” among photonics technologies today, and potential solutions?
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OSA Optical Material Studies Technical Group Special Talk
Students and recent graduates are invited to join the OSA Optical Material Studies Technical Group for a special talk on potential career paths during lunch on Monday. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from two recent graduates, one who has pursued a career in industry and one who has pursued a career in academia, who will provide insight into their current research and their career paths.
Hosted by: 
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Workshop: Understanding Unconscious Bias
Speaker: Sara Bendoraitis, American University, USA
Research demonstrates that we all have unconscious biases. These biases can result in best and brightest talent made to feel unwelcome, invisible, and not important to the success of the organization. This training will explore concepts and engage participants to better understand implicit bias, increase awareness and understanding the impact on organizational culture and identify ways to promote greater engagement with diversity and inclusion.
Programs are open to OSA Members.
Hosted by: 
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National Photonics Initiative - Petawatt Laser Discussion @ CLEO
On behalf of the National Photonics Initiative, we invite you to a meeting to discuss a path forward for the US in the field of petawatt lasers and their science applications.
This meeting follows the release of the National Academy report "Reaching for the Brightest Light", which describes the current opportunities for petawatt laser science and applications, and also documents how that the US has fallen behind Europe and Asia in this arena.
The meeting will include a summary of the report conclusions from Peter Moulton, who served on the "Reaching for the Brightest Light" committee. There will also be some invited short presentations on potential petawatt laser facilities in the US. A discussion following these short presentations will focus on coordinating national efforts to develop capabilities in petawatt laser science in the US, with the goal of formulating an agenda for a longer formal workshop some time later in the year.
This meeting is sponsored by The National Photonics Initiative a collaborative alliance among industry, academia and government to raise awareness of photonics and the impact of photonics on our everyday lives; increase cooperation and coordination among US industry, government and academia to advance photonics-driven fields; and drive US funding and investment in areas of photonics critical to maintaining US economic competitiveness and national security. The initiative is being led by top scientific societies including the American Physical Society (APS), the IEEE Photonics Society, the Laser Institute of America (LIA), The Optical Society (OSA) and SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics.
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Diversity & Inclusion in Optics and Photonics Reception
Join us for a reception to connect with the optics and photonics community to discuss diversity in the field. Come to learn, share and engage with colleagues around this important topic. Please RSVP here to let us know you are attending.
This inclusive event has been organized by OSA, IEEE and APS.
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OSA CAM Lounge
OSA Members: Tell us your story! The Celebrating All Members (CAM) videos are an opportunity for OSA members to share a little bit about themselves, such as how they chose their field and what excites them most about their work. Watch some videos here.
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Plenary Speaker Meet & Greet (Tuesday)
Meet plenary presenters Nader Engheta, John C. Mather, Vasilis Ntziachristos and Sara Seager. Ask questions and network with your colleagues.
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OIDA VIP Industry Leaders Speed Meetings Lunch: Connecting Corporate Executives, Young Professionals & Students
Sponsored by
This session brings together Industry Executives to share their business experience with Young Professionals, Recent Graduates and Students – how they started their careers, lessons learned and using their degree in an executive position. Informal networking during lunch is followed by a transition to “speed meetings” – brief, small-group visits with each executive to discuss industry trends or career topics.
Participants:
Steven Butcher, Coherent, USA
Ruth Houbertz, Multiphoton Optics GmbH, Germany
Zhi M. Liao, LLNL (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), USA
Mark Tolbert, Toptica, USA
Giacomo Vacca, Kinetic River, USA
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Meet the OSA Editors Reception
Join OSA Publishing’s Journal Editors for conversation and ice cream. The Editors welcome your questions, concerns and ideas for any of OSA’s Journals. Topics that can be covered include best practices when submitting a manuscript; elements of a useful manuscript review; criteria editors look for in submitted manuscripts; and the process to propose a Feature Issue topic for publication in an OSA Journal.
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OSA Nanophotonics Technical Group 20x20 Talks
This special session hosted by the OSA Nanophotonics Technical Group offers a unique platform for individuals to present their research in a creative and concise fashion that differs from the usual oral or poster session. Selected participants will showcase their research in a presentation of 20 images, in which each image is displayed for 20 seconds. Presenters will talk along to the images as the slides advance automatically. Immediately following the presentations, attendees are invited to join the technical group for a small reception where they can network with colleagues over refreshments.
Hosted by: 
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OSA Technical Group Poster Session
Join the OSA Technical Groups for a series of focused poster sessions, bringing together students and colleagues for an opportunity to share their latest research findings and exchange ideas. After listening to the poster presentations and connecting with fellow attendees over refreshments, you’ll have a chance to cast your vote for the best poster from each of the four participating technical groups. Among the technical groups participating this year will be the Optical Material Studies Technical Group, the Ultrafast Optical Phenomena Technical Group, the Systems and Instrumentation Technical Group and the Environmental Sensing Technical Group.
Hosted by: 
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OSA Photonic Metamaterials Technical Group Tutorial on Metasurface Design and Simulation
Join the OSA Photonic Metamaterials Technical Group for a tutorial on metasurface design and simulation during lunch on Wednesday. This tutorial, aimed at students and new researchers, will focus on hands-on skills. Dr. Wei Ting Chen from Harvard University, with assistance from Alexander Zhu and Yao-Wei Huang, will provide an overview of metasurfaces followed by a tutorial on how to perform the simulation.
Hosted by: 
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Conference Reception
Enjoy a festive evening with your colleagues. The reception is open to all attendees and badges must be worn to enter the reception.
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Emerging Trends in Nonlinear Optics – A Review of CLEO: 2018
OSA Members are invited to join the OSA Nonlinear Optics Technical Group for a special panel discussion presenting the exciting and hot topics in nonlinear optics that were presented during CLEO: 2018. Short presentations from our panelists highlighting important themes from the conference will be followed by moderated question and answer sessions. Following the conclusion of the panel discussion, members are invited to join the technical group for a small reception where they can network with colleagues over refreshments. This technical group event is exclusively for OSA Members.
Hosted by: 
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Postdeadline Paper Sessions
The Technical Program Committee has accepted a limited number of postdeadline papers for oral presentation. The purpose of postdeadline papers is to give participants the opportunity to hear new and significant materials in rapidly advancing areas.
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IEEE Photonics Society Booth and Member Lounge
IEEE members are welcome to visit the IEEE Member Lounge sponsored by the IEEE Photonics Society, located near CLEO Registration. Come to the IEEE members-only lounge to sit down, relax, grab a snack and connect to the internet. Not a member? Learn more about how you can join IEEE Photonics by stopping by the lounge or society booth.
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IEEE Photonics Society
The IEEE Photonics Society is the professional home for a global network of scientists and engineers who represent the laser, optoelectronics and photonics community. IEEE Photonics provides its members with professional growth opportunities, publishes journals, sponsors conferences and supports local chapter and student activities around the world. Visit the IEEE Photonics Society booth, near registration, for more information on how to volunteer and/or become a member.
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The Optical Society Booth
Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional association in optics and photonics, home to accomplished science, engineering, and business leaders from all over the world. Through world-renowned publications, meetings, and membership programs, OSA provides quality information and inspiring interactions that power achievements in the science of light. More than 20,000 OSA Members, residing in over 100 countries and spanning academia, government and industry, call OSA their professional home.
Stop by to meet OSA staff, and learn more about our publications, conferences and meetings, and membership for individuals and companies.
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The OSA Member Lounge
OSA Members are invited to take a brief respite from the conference at the Member Lounge. Whether it’s to plan your schedule, meet up with other members or print your boarding pass, the lounge offers comfortable seating, light refreshments, coffee service and a computer/printer.
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Social Media 101: Connecting Your Way to a Brighter Career
Savvy scientists must increasingly engage with social media. It is how and where we share information – with friends, colleagues, acquaintances and any and everyone else. The co-sponsors of CLEO are hosting a social media career session to explore the benefits of leveraging social media for advancement. During this session, we will explain how anyone at any stage in their career use social media to influence and grow. You will learn best practices and gain practical takeaways enabling you to optimize your "social" footprint and personal brand.
Speakers: Andrea Armani,
University of Southern California, USA; Ben Eggleton,
University of Sydney, Australia; Anjul Loiacono,
Thorlabs, USA
Presiders: Becky Andersen,
The Optical Society, USA; Katie Agin,
IEEE Photonic Society, USA
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OSA Lasers in Manufacturing Technical Group Meet and Greet
Members of the OSA Lasers in Manufacturing Technical Group are invited to stop by the OSA Member Lounge on Thursday afternoon to meet with two of the group's executive committee members, Yufeng Li and Richa Dubey. You are invited to share your feedback about the technical group's recent activities as well as share your suggestions for future activities with the committee.
Hosted by:
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What’s Next in Integrated Optics – Hot Topics at CLEO: 2019
Monday, 6 May, 12:30 - 13:30
Room 230A, SJCC
Join the OSA Integrated Optics Technical Group for a panel discussion during lunch on Monday. Our featured presenters will give their perspective on the exciting research that will be presented at CLEO 2019. These presentations will be followed by a moderated question and answer session, discussing the highlights in integrated optics at the Conference. This event is an excellent opportunity to hear from experts in the field on exciting new areas in integrated optics. Panelists include Michal Lipson, Columbia University; Marko Loncar, Harvard University; and Jelena Vuckovic, Stanford University. If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to let us know.
Hosted by: 
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