Community at SPIE Optics + Photonics

Learn about resources and events that support equitable and inclusive environments in optics and photonics

Welcome to the community

Join us as we continue to learn how diversity drives success on global collaborations. Take advantage of the opportunities that we as an organization, and you as an attendee can participate in as we work to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within our community and beyond.

On this page you will find a variety of resources available to you.

A speaker at SPIE Optics + Photonics advocates for inclusion

Family care while attending the meeting

SPIE believes that individuals with significant caregiving responsibilities should have an equal opportunity to share their research and participate in conferences and symposia.

SPIE Family Care Grants are designed to supplement caregiving costs incurred by SPIE Members who are registered to attend an SPIE meeting, either in person or virtually. See hotel details in the reservation system to find hotels that offer onsite childcare.

Find information and apply for an SPIE Family Care Grant

Recent progress. More room for improvement.

The SPIE Women in Optics initiative began in 1998

We are proud to now have more than 3,500 female members
57% of the SPIE Board and 39% of Standing Committee roles are now filled by women
12% of our Senior Members are women
In 2022 18% of our Society Award winners were women
What can you do? Help change the numbers by nominating yourself or others: Women in Optics Planner, SPIE Senior Member, and SPIE Awards.

Together. We can.

Women gather in the Optics + Photonics Community Lounge between sessions.

Advocacy and accommodations

All in-person SPIE meetings will now have:
o Quiet room (prayer, decompression, meditation)
o Privacy room for nursing mothers
o Gender neutral restrooms whenever possible
o Anti-harassment signage and policies co-sponsored with Optica

Learn about SPIE Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

SPIE believes in the development of collaborative environments that value participation from individuals with different ideas and perspectives. Because diversity drives success on global collaborations, this unity of brilliant scientific minds leads other STEM fields in seeking more diversity. There is always work to be done and improvements that can be made. Find resources and events here to advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion.

In a crowd, a male with glasses tilts head and smiles, while listening to an EDI presenter