About
Our New Brand Story
Wave hello to Optica.
Inspired by our work advancing light science and technology worldwide, we are excited to announce our society's new name.
About Optica
What We Do
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.
Learn more about Optica's StrategyView the 2021 Optica Financial Report
Read the 2021 Optica Foundation Annual Report
From our President
During my Optica presidency, I hope to help build connections among different areas of the society and find opportunities to unite the broader optics and photonics community. I am fascinated by interfaces—a perspective that will inform my approach as Optica President. I have spent my career working at the border between industry and academia, as well as between engineering and marketing. From this vantage point, I have been a keen observer of how we communicate (or don’t) across these boundaries. I’ve noted all the opportunities missed because of a lack of understanding or collaboration. Communication is key, and I feel strongly that to advance groundbreaking research and the development of new optics and photonics technologies, we must reach across these divides in the interest of our common goals.
Jim Kafka, 2025 Optica President
Our Core Values: i4
Optica’s values of innovation, integrity, inclusivity and impact (“i4”) underpin all of its activities, and a commitment to excellence and diversity are the hallmarks of its initiatives. Our Core Values define the principles that guide Optica's mission.
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Our Leadership
Optica is a “member-driven” society. The most senior governing body is the Board of Directors. Responsibilities for key areas are allocated to topic-specific councils comprised of nominated volunteers.
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Our Future
The 2030 Green Paper outlines the vision for the society and while this document provides an overview of the collective thinking of a range of members and volunteers, it is only a beginning. Our greatest strength is its member-driven collaboration, and the Board encourages each member to add his or her own insights and opinions to the conversation.
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