The goal is to introduce 50 Black physics and engineering undergraduate or first year Master’s students annually to the research and career opportunities in optics and photonics and to the Optica community.

Following is a general overview of the program timeline and description.

Program Timeline
The program will run 25-28 October (4 days and 3 nights) co-located with the Optica annual meeting Frontiers in Optics:

• Saturday, 25 October– arrival and networking event
• Sunday, 26 October – Immersion programming, Student Leadership plenary and party
• Monday 27 October – FiO/Student Leadership programming, DLS Symposium on Undergraduate Research 
• Tuesday 28 October – show floor tour, Plenary and departure

Program Description
Time will be split between programming designed specifically for this group, joint activities with the Optica Student Leadership program, and attending FiO talks and programming. The activities for the Immersion attendees will include: 

1. Overview of optics and photonics research, technologies and career opportunities. 
2. Introduction to Optica and of FiO technical program and special events with programming on getting the most out of the experience.
3. Participation in the DLS Symposium on Undergraduate Research
4. Participation in FiO activities including small group guided tours of FiO exhibit floor and the opening Plenary talk. 
5. Informal networking activities and meals 

Schedule and speakers subject to change.