Steven Chu Wins Award

The Optical Society presented US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu with its 2013 Advocate of Optics honor at its Leadership Conference in Washington in February. Chu was recognized for “public policy leadership and efforts in support of the advancement of the science and light,” particularly his efforts in increasing investments for photovoltaics, LEDs and other optics-based energy technologies, OSA said. He is well-known in the optics community for his Nobel Prize-winning work on laser cooling.

OSA President Donna Strickland, right, presents the 2013 Advocate of Optics honor to US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.