The photonics program at BSU is amazing. ... There is really a perfect balance between learning in the classroom, research, and opportunities like seeing the Thorlabs truck where you can explore your passions in what is best for your desires and goals.
Photonics is revolutionizing technology, and about 150 students recently got an up-close look at an industry that could influence their careers no matter the degree they pursue.
The glimpse into cutting-edge research came when BSU hosted a mobile laboratory courtesy of Thorlabs, a prominent manufacturer of photonics equipment.
“It’s essential for people in our community to know what photonics is,” said Dr. Samuel Serna, assistant professor of physics, photonics and optical engineering. “The conversation is happening at the political level and every citizen should be aware.”
BSU is already a leader in photonics education, having launched a bachelor’s degree in the rapidly growing field several years ago. Photonics uses particles of light called photons to improve technology for consumers and industries such as telecommunications, biomedical sensing and imaging, and autonomous vehicles.
The mobile lab, housed in a 30-foot trailer, offered introductory experiences for BSU students who are not majoring in photonics as well as students from Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School and Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School.
They explored how light interacts with water and sound and studied how white light is broken down into a spectrum of colors. The high school students also toured Bridgewater's photonics labs, an experience Serna hopes encourages some of them to study at BSU.
For photonics majors, Thorlabs offered an advanced look at biomedical optics and photonics’ role in enhancing imaging of the human body. This broadened their perspectives on how the principles they study at BSU can be used in real-world applications, Serna said.
“We wanted to give our students the opportunity to see something different (than what BSU faculty and students research),” he said.
Janelle Murphy, '27, a photonics and optical engineering and finance major, appreciated the opportunity to talk with professionals in the industry and learn how they use the concepts she studies at Bridgewater State.
"The photonics program at BSU is amazing," she said. "There are so many connections to industry and academics outside of Bridgewater State University. There is really a perfect balance between learning in the classroom, research, and opportunities like seeing the Thorlabs truck where you can explore your passions in what is best for your desires and goals."
Thorlabs representatives left impressed by BSU’s facilities, which they said were comparable to what they would expect to see in a graduate program. That feedback was especially meaningful, Serna said.
“Thorlabs goes to graduate and undergraduate programs all over the country,” he said. “They have a perspective on what is state of the art.”
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