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Date: 9/4/2026
Subject: OSSC Newsletter - September 2026
From: Newsletter Team

Newsletter Volume 31, Number 1
September 2026

Table of Contents

From the President
September OSSC Meeting – Prof. Ebrahim Karimi
Congratulations to the 2026–2027 OSSC Leadership Team
Mount Wilson: A Memorable OSSC Summer Experience
October 14 OSSC Meeting at Diverse Optics
Support OSSC Community Initiatives
Optical Equipment Available in Orange County
VITAL Link – Empowering Futures 2026
Upcoming Optics & Photonics Events
Outreach Activities
Optics Education
Attention Students
OSSC Website Sponsors
OSSC Corporate Members
Welcome New OSSC Members

From the President

McGwire Herbert

I am beyond excited to kick off the 2026–2027 OSSC year! It's an honor to serve as your president, and I can't wait to see what we build together over the coming months.

We're starting strong with our first event of the year at the Samueli Academy on September 9th. This is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new members, and set the tone for a year full of learning, networking, and community engagement.

I'm also thrilled about the board we've assembled this year. We have a talented and dedicated group of members bringing fresh energy, new ideas, and a shared commitment to growing OSSC's impact, both for our professional community and for the students who are the future of our field.

Thank you for being part of OSSC. Here's to a great year ahead. I look forward to seeing you on September 9th!

Registration and Details

Congratulations to the 2026–2027 OSSC Leadership Team

OSSC is pleased to welcome its 2026–2027 Leadership Team. We thank our officers, councilors, chairs, and volunteers for contributing their time and expertise to support OSSC and its members.

President: McGwire Herbert
Vice President: Stefan Forschner
Secretary: Sebastian Bresson
Treasurer: Donn Silberman
Councilors: Yryx Luna, Harvey Spencer, and SooJin Cha

Meet the Leadership Team >

Mount Wilson: A Memorable OSSC Summer Experience

OSSC members and friends gathered at Mount Wilson Observatory for an evening that combined astronomy, history, and community. The experience left a strong impression on many who attended—from visiting the historic Monastery and learning about the Observatory’s legacy to viewing Saturn through the 100-inch Hooker Telescope late into the night.

The Mount Wilson visit left a lasting impression on those who attended, with members describing it as a “fantastic event,” an experience they would “treasure for the rest of our lives,” and “truly one of the unforgettable moments” of their lives.

In his From the Past President letter, Donn Silberman reflects on the Mount Wilson visit from his own perspective and connects the experience with his long-standing interest in astronomy and the OSSC History Project. Read Donn's Reflection >

Mount Wilson Photos & Videos
Explore more moments from the August 8 Mount Wilson visit through photos and videos shared by OSSC members.

View Donn’s Photo Album >

View Photos & Videos >

by Ablimit Ablez, OSSC Zoom & Video Coordinator and Donn Silberman, OSSC Past President.

October 14 OSSC Meeting at Diverse Optics

Join OSSC at Diverse Optics in Rancho Cucamonga for a presentation by Gregory F. Miller:

From Concept to High-Volume Production: How High-Precision Polymer Optics Are Perfected

Polymer optics can enable aspheres, freeforms, diffractives, and integrated mechanical features that can be difficult or impractical to produce in glass. Diverse Optics will discuss how high-precision polymer optics move from design to production, including material selection, single-point diamond turning, precision injection molding, coating and assembly, and the metrology used to verify optical performance.

More Details Coming Soon >

Support OSSC Community Initiatives

OSSC members and friends can now support several community and education initiatives through the OSSC Donate page, including the Mt. Wilson Observatory Fund, Pasadena City College – Laser Technology Fund, and the OSSC History Celebration & Project Fund. Learn More & Donate >

Optical Equipment Available in Orange County

Drew’s Optical in Orange County is offering optical equipment for sale. OSSC members who may be interested in laboratory, educational, or optical equipment are invited to review the available items and contact the seller directly for additional information.

View Equipment Details >

Vital Link – Empowering Futures 2026

OSSC is supporting Vital Link’s Empowering Futures 2026 Gala with a half-page ad in the event booklet. This collaboration reflects OSSC’s continued support for student outreach, career awareness, and STEM education across Southern California.

Learn More About Vital Link >

Upcoming Optics & Photonics Events

Monarch Quantum OSSC + UCSD SPIE Oct 12 2026 image

Stay connected with the broader optics and photonics community through upcoming conferences and technical events this fall.

OSSC + UCSD SPIE Meeting – Tim Day, Monarch Quantum
Join OSSC and the UC San Diego SPIE community for a special October 12 meeting featuring Tim Day of Monarch Quantum. Event Details >

Also coming up:

SPIE Sensors + Imaging
Photonics in Switching and Computing (PSC)
Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science

See More Events >

Final Notes

We love publishing news from our members including profiles, activities, white papers, and new products from our OSSC Corporate Members. Send your input to Newsletter@ossc.org. Please include the word "newsletter" in the subject line of your email.

Outreach

Outreach Webpage

$Outreach Steven Dang Diffractive Selfie$

Outreach Opportunities

The OSSC seeks volunteers for upcoming events being organized by our friends at Vital Link and The Girl Scouts of Orange County and many more. If you are interested please contact us at Outreach@ossc.org.

Optics Education

UC Irvine Optical & PCC Laser Tech

Learn more about professional education opportunities on the OSSC website.

Attention Students

Student Members receive a meal discount at our regular meetings. If you qualify as a Student Member but do not see the discount, your membership probably needs to be updated. Please contact Memberships@ossc.org to have your membership changed to Student Member before registering for the next meeting.

Student Members are Individual Members who are currently enrolled in school at least part-time and are not working full-time.

Website Sponsors