The Optical Society


The Optical Society is a professional association of individuals and companies with an interest in optics and photonics. It publishes journals, and organizes conferences and exhibitions. In 2019 it had about 22,000 members in more than 100 different countries, including some 300 companies.

History

OSA was founded in 1916 as the "Optical Society of America", under the leadership of Perley G. Nutting, with 30 optical scientists and instrument makers based in Rochester, New York. It soon published its first journal of research results and established an annual meeting. The first local section was established in Rochester, New York in 1916, and the Journal of the Optical Society of America was created in 1918. The first series of joint meetings with the American Physical Society was in 1918. In 2008 it changed its name to The Optical Society.

Scientific publishing

The society publishes a number of journals and a magazine.

Primary journals

Optics and Photonics News, 1975–present. Distributed to all members.

Recognitions

The Optical Society presents awards and honors, including OSA Fellow, Honorary Membership, and Awards/Medals. OSA's awards and medals program is endowed through the OSA Foundation, and includes more than 20 named awards; among them are the following:
The following persons are or have been presidents of the society: