Albanach Alliance OSA Student Chapter Awarded Educational Outreach and Activity Grants

The Optical Society of America (OSA) and the OSA Foundation (OSAF) are pleased to announce that the Albanach Alliance OSA Student Chapter at the University of Edinburgh has been awarded a 2008 Activity Grant in support of a chapter lunch, trips to IONS, and the presentation of a play on the life of Mary Somerfield as well as an educational outreach grant whose objective is to participate in the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

 OSA Student Chapters provide guest lecturer programs, leadership training and year-round networking opportunities for students with an interest in optics and photonics. It also works closely with schools and community groups to present programs such as hands-on demonstrations, teacher guides, lesson plans, lab tours, mentoring programs, contests/competitions and much more. These programs take place in OSA Student Chapters throughout the world.

OSA supports these activities through grants, awards and a student member rebate program. “Building a strong network of OSA Student Chapters around the globe is one of OSA’s highest priorities,” said Rod Alferness, 2008 OSA President.

Advancing youth science education with special emphasis on underserved populations is one of the OSA Foundation’s top priorities. “We continue to be impressed by the grass roots education programs that are developed by OSA’s Student Chapters,” said Gary Bjorklund, OSAF Chair. “The Foundation is proud to support these dedicated volunteers.” The OSAF has awarded over 85 youth science grants during the program’s four year history.  Nineteen grants were approved in 2008 reaching students in over 15 countries.

To learn more about the Alba Alliance OSA Student Chapter please contact Laurence Wilson (laurence.wilson@ed.ac.uk).  If you are interested in more information about OSA’s Student Chapter grant programs and volunteer opportunities, visit: www.osa/studentservices/chapters

or contact: KiKi L’Italien (telephone: +1 202.416.1432, email: klital@osa.org).

About OSA
Uniting more than 70,000 professionals from 134 countries, the Optical Society of America (OSA) brings together the global optics community through its programs and initiatives. Since 1916 OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing educational resources to the scientists, engineers and business leaders who work in the field by promoting the science of light and the advanced technologies made possible by optics and photonics. OSA publications, events, technical groups and programs foster optics knowledge and scientific collaboration among all those with an interest in optics and photonics. For more information, visit www.osa.org.

About the OSA Foundation
The OSA Foundation was established in 2002 to support philanthropic activities that help further the Optical Society of America’s mission by concentrating its efforts on programs that advance youth science education, provide optics and photonics education to underserved populations, provide career and professional development resources  and support OSA's Awards and Honors program. The grants funded by the OSA Foundation are made possible by the generous donations of its supporters as well as the dollar-for-dollar match by OSA. The Foundation is exempt from US federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a public charity. To learn more about the OSA Foundation or to find out how to donate, please visit www.osa-foundation.org or email foundation@osa.org.