Jose A. Ferrari
About Optica
In Memoriam: Jose A. Ferrari, 1956 - 2021
16 March 2021
Jose Ferrari, scientist, devoted teacher, and beloved mentor passed away on 16 March 2021. He was known for his research contributions in applied optics, optical sensors, fourier optics, and interferometry, with over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles in his name.
Ferrari was born in Uruguay in 1956, where he obtained a degree in mathematics and physics from the Universidad de la República, in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1981 and 1986, respectively. Ferrari received his PhD in the natural sciences (rer. nat) in 1991 from the Technische Universität of Berlin, Germany, where he studied five-dimensional relativity theory.
Ferrari became full Professor in the Physics Department of the Engineering School of Universidad de la República, Uruguay in 1996. There, he played a fundamental role, leading educational efforts both at the undergraduate and graduate level, also directing and promoting research as the Applied Optics principal lead.
In 2011, Ferrari was honored as a Level III Investigator by the National Research System of Uruguay for his contribution to the humanities.
Ferrari was a renowned scientific figure across Latin America, with creativity and vision that translated scientific contributions into industrial applications and patents. He was a member of Optica who participated in various technical groups such as VA Applications of Visual Science, VC Color and IR Image Sensing and Patter Recognition, to name a few. In addition to his scientific contributions, he was tremendously impactful as a mentor for students in Physics and Electrical Engineering, tirelessly promoting excellence in all scientific endeavors. His students and colleagues will remember him for his extraordinary scientific talent, but fundamentally, for his generosity and his inspiring role for the younger generations.
Optica, his students and the scientific community mourn his loss.
