About the IONS-Project

In 2006, several European Student Chapters of the Optical Society of America decided to collaborate on their research and outreach activities. Getting to know other young scientists on a professional and personal level, discussing science, visiting international research centers, and expanding their personal horizon visiting other countries were the main ideas driving this international effort.

IONS, the International OSA Network of Students, connects you with people from around the globe, all actively engaged in optics and photonics. While ordinary scientific conferences focus strongly on just one particular topic in optics and are rather impersonal, IONS conferences focusses on you. Present your latest results to fellow young scientists from across optics during the scientific sessions, discuss it, and get informed about other young scientist's cutting-edge research projects. Your chapter's activities are at the centre of a whole session at IONS, giving space to discussions about educational outreach activities and more with fellow student chapter members.

Since 2006, IONS Conferences have been organised at venues such as Southampton's ORC - Optoelectronics Research Centre (UK), Munich based MPQ - Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (Germany), the University of Naples (Italy), and Barcelona's ICFO – The Institute of Photonics Sciences (Spain), and attended by over a hundred students from around the world.

For the next IONS conference in your region, check out the European, North American, Asian and Australasian branches, and become part of the IONS-Project.