I hope this message finds you, your families, and your colleagues healthy and in good spirits.
These are truly uncharted waters for us all, in both our personal and professional lives.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SPIE has, for the first time in history, canceled events. Our conferences feel like family gatherings to many of us, and we will all miss the reunions with our colleagues and the opportunities to create new friendships. Please remember to reach out in other ways to keep your community vibrant and connected.
One way to connect with your community is by nominating a colleague for an SPIE Award. Started in 1959, SPIE Awards have honored the best in optics and photonics for their significant achievements and contributions in advancing light-based research and technologies and for their service to the community. We currently have 22 awards that span the full breadth of our Society, and we continue to add new awards.
In today's digital-first world of social media, it is easy to give immediate thanks, recognition, and congratulations. Perhaps too easy: while everything is forever on the internet, a Twitter shout-out seems somewhat fleeting as it moves further and further down the page with each new tweet.
In contrast, SPIE Awards are presented just once a year, and each award requires a significant and deliberate effort by many volunteers. A nomination must state the accomplishment of the individual, provide a narrative on its importance, and evaluate their impact on the community and the Society. A nomination must be supported by two to five letters of reference. Once the nominations are submitted to the SPIE Awards Committee, a separate subcommittee is established for each award and the nomination packages are carefully evaluated. The final list of awardees is then approved by the SPIE Board of Directors.
No one wins an SPIE Award by accident, and I think this is what makes SPIE Awards so special. While some awards recognize a specific accomplishment, many recognize an individual's body of work often spanning their entire career. These awards mean a great deal to the recipient as an affirmation by their peers-that they have done something truly special and important. They are a huge shout-out from all of us! As the recipient of the 2017 SPIE Maria J. Yzuel Educator Award, I can personally attest to the pride, gratification, and even validation experienced though this recognition.
I urge you to help identify colleagues who are deserving of this recognition, and get a nomination package started. It is simply a good thing to do, and you will feel good doing it! As a society that honors diversity and inclusion, we welcome opportunities to recognize underrepresented groups. The nomination deadline for the 2021 SPIE Awards is 1 June 2020, and details can be found on spie.org/awards.
Recognizing the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of members of our community is an important responsibility for all of us.
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John E. Greivenkamp 2020 SPIE President |
