The 50th anniversary of the laser will be celebrated at the University of Waterloo with a free public lecture next week.
WATERLOO, Ont. (Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010) - The 50th anniversary of the laser will be celebrated at the University of Waterloo with a free public lecture next week.
The laser has transformed the way we live and is considered to be one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. Donna Strickland, a professor of physics and astronomy, will explore how the laser works and its impact on society during a talk entitled The Laser Turns 50.
“We are pleased to commemorate this milestone and have professor Strickland share her extensive knowledge about lasers with the community,” said Terry McMahon, Waterloo's dean of science.
Strickland will also discuss chirped pulse amplification (CPA), a technique used to increase the intensity of lasers that was developed 25 years ago by Strickland and her PhD supervisor Gérard Mourou.
This week at Laval University, Strickland and Mourou will be recognized for their invention at the International Symposium on Chirped Pulse Amplification. The symposium brings together researchers from around the world that use CPA technology and provides them with an opportunity to showcase what they are doing in their respective fields.
After Strickland’s lecture, small tours of her laser lab will be offered. Pre-registration is required as space is limited to 30 people in total (10 per tour). To register for the tour, please email scienceevents@uwaterloo.ca. or call 519-888-4567 ext. 38804.
The lecture, hosted by the faculty of science, will be held on Thursday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Centre for Environmental and Information Technology, room 1015.
Parking will be available in lot HV at the south end of campus (off of Ring Road) for $3 on entrance.
About Waterloo Science
Since its founding in 1959, Waterloo's faculty of science has been instrumental in placing the university at the forefront of innovation, discovery and learning. The faculty offers more than 50 core science specializations and options in the departments of biology, physics and astronomy, chemistry, and earth and environmental sciences. It is also home to two world-class professional schools - Canada’s only English- speaking optometry school and one of only two pharmacy co-op programs in North America. For more information, go to www.science.uwaterloo.ca.
About Waterloo
The University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle, is one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities. Waterloo is home to 30,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students who are dedicated to making the future better and brighter. Waterloo, known for the largest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world, supports enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. For more information about Waterloo, visit www.uwaterloo.ca.
Contacts:
Joanna Magee, communications officer, faculty of science, 519-888-4567
ext. 38983 or jmagee@uwaterloo.ca
John Morris, Waterloo media relations, 519-888-4435 or john.morris@uwaterloo.ca
Waterloo news release no. 90
