Awards & Honors
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Awards & Honors
Get Involved
Celebrating distinguished achievements and contributions.
Award | News Release
David A. B. Miller Receives the 2025 Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize
Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, has named David A. B. Miller, Stanford University, USA, the 2025 Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize recipient. Miller is recognized for fundamental scientific and engineering research contributions spanning multiple areas, including optics in digital systems, fundamentals of optics and waves, and complex and controllable photonic circuits.
“David Miller is a highly innovative scientist, who has made multiple fundamental contributions to optics,” said Jim Kafka, 2025 Optica President. “He is also a talented educator and dedicated volunteer, and I have had the distinct pleasure of learning from him during many of my visits to Stanford. It is a pleasure to congratulate him on this well-deserved honor."
Award | News Release
Optica names recipients of 2025 Awards and Medals
Optica is pleased to announce the recipients of 22 of its 2025 awards and medals. These awards and medals highlight outstanding technical, research, engineering, educational, business, leadership, and service accomplishments.
"On behalf of the Optica Board, I congratulate the 2025 Optica award and medal recipients,” said Jim Kafka. “Their outstanding work is driving our field forward. I would also like to thank those who nominated candidates, submitted references, and served on selection committees—your service and support in recognizing members of our community is greatly appreciated."
Award | News Release
Announcing the 2025 Optica Fellows Class
The Board of Directors of Optica recently elected 121 members from 27 countries to the Society’s 2025 Fellow Class. Optica Fellows are selected based on several factors, including outstanding contributions to research, business, education, engineering, and service to Optica and our community.
“Congratulations to the 2025 class of Optica Fellows,” said Jim Kafka, 2025 Optica President. “These members are making important contributions to our society and field. We thank them for their dedication and are incredibly proud to celebrate their accomplishments.”
Award | News Release
Masatoshi Suzuki Receives 2025 John Tyndall Award
Optica and the IEEE Photonics Society have named Masatoshi Suzuki, Chitose Institute of Science and Technology, Japan, the 2025 John Tyndall Award recipient. Suzuki is recognized for pioneering and seminal contributions to large capacity long-haul optical communication systems including integrated light sources, dispersion-managed soliton, WDM submarine cable systems, and spatial multiplexing.
“Masatoshi Suzuki’s outstanding work revolutionized optical communications,” said Gerd Leuchs, Optica 2024 President. “His achievements have allowed us to keep pace with the ever-growing demands to connect faster and at higher capacities.” Perry Shum, IEEE Photonics Society President added, "Professor Suzuki's contributions continue to influence the future of optical communication. His dedication to advancing technology and fostering innovation has left an indelible mark on the field, inspiring future generations of researchers and engineers."
Award | News Release
Michael Fleischhauer Named 2025 Herbert Walther Award Recipient
Optica and the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG) have named Michael Fleischhauer, Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität (RPTU) Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany, the recipient of the 2025 Herbert Walther Award. He is recognized for key contributions in nonlinear quantum optics as well as photonic and atomic quantum technologies - in particular for the development of a toolbox to coherently control multi-level atoms with light, including the concept of dark state polaritons and Rydberg dipole blockade physics.
He has led a number of influential international collaborations, is a dedicated mentor, and has served the community through his work on the editorial boards, advisory boards, and international conference committees. A pioneer in the field, Fleischhauer’s work has had a profound impact across a range of fields from quantum networking and quantum information science to on-chip optical interconnects for advanced classical computing, and even sensing and metrology.
Award | Honorary Members
Sir Peter L. Knight Named Honorary Member
Sir Peter L. Knight is internationally renowned for his ground-breaking quantum optics research. His investigations of quantum optics, strong field physics and nonclassical properties of light culminated in the theoretical foundations of quantum computing and quantum information science. In recognition of his influence within the international physics community, Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, has named Knight an Optica Honorary Member, the most distinguished of all Optica Member categories.
Knight is recognized for remarkable and varied contributions to quantum optics, ranging from foundations to applications, and his unique combination of educational, organizational, and globally active leadership skills. He is currently an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Physics, Imperial College London, UK; Chair of the UK National Quantum Technology Programme Strategic Advisory Board; and Chair of the National Physical Laboratory Quantum Metrology Institute.
"Peter's influence on our field has extended well beyond his pioneering quantum optics research. He is an outstanding leader, advisor, and mentor, bridging the gaps between academia, organizations, and governments," said Gerd Leuchs, Optica's 2024 President. "The quantum science and optics community benefits greatly from his service. We are proud to recognize him as an Optica Honorary Member."
