2022 Emmett N. Leith Medal Winner
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Optica Names Min Gu the 2022 Emmett N. Leith Medal Recipient
Optica (formerly OSA) is pleased to announce that Min Gu, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST), China, been selected as the 2022 recipient of the Emmett N. Leith Medal. Gu is honored for outstanding contributions to nanoscale optical information technology by extending the limit of optical data storage, holography and display through multi-dimensional division including optical orbital angular momentum and vectorial domains.
Min Gu received his MS degree and PhD from Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. He is currently Executive Chancellor of USST and an Honorary Professor of RMIT University, Australia. Prior to that, he was a Distinguished Professor and Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor at RMIT, and a Laureate Fellow of the Australian Research Council, a University Distinguished Professor, and Pro Vice-Chancellor at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.
Gu is a world leading authority in the fields of nanophotonics and biophotonics with internationally renowned expertise in three-dimensional optical imaging theory. His research has led to significant impacts on societal challenges in information technology. He has pioneered nanoscale information optics including nanometric optical data storage and holography using advanced nanomaterials through multi-dimensional division including orbital angular momentum and vectorial domains. He is a sole author of two standard reference books and has over 550 publications in nano/biophotonics.
An active volunteer, he has served Optica and other organizations in several roles including as member of the Optica Board of Director’s , Vice President of the Bureau of the International Commission for Optics and Vice President of the Chinese Society of Optical Engineering. He has received the Einstein Professorship Award, the W. H. Steel Prize, the Ian Wark Medal, the Boas Medal, the Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation, and the Dennis Gabor Award. He is a Fellow of Optica, the American Institute of Physics, the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, IEEE, the Institute of Physics, and SPIE. He is also a Foreign Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Optical Society.
Established in 2006 the Leith Medal recognizes seminal contributions to the field of optical information processing. In assessing the significance of the contribution, consideration is given to all aspects including theoretical and conceptual breakthroughs as well as practical applications. It honors Emmett N. Leith, a world-renowned scientist in holography and optical information processing, and is endowed by General Dynamics, the University of Michigan College of Engineering, USA, Physical Optics Corporation and individual contributors, including Alexander Sawchuk, Joseph Goodman, James R. Fienup, G. Michael Morris, Tom Cathey and James Wyant.
About Optica
Optica (formerly OSA), Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica’s renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement.
