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Steve D Jacobs Memorial Talk

When
March 28, 2017
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location
Laboratory for Laser Energetics - East Lobby 240 East River Road, Rochester NY 14623

Abstract

The MRF technology was invented by William Kordonski and his team in Minsk, Belarus in the early 1990s and since then, it has taken an unlikely path to reach its place in optics shops all over the world. There were many key events and people along the way who were instrumental in making that happen. The Stephen Jacobs lecture is a wonderful venue for retracing this journey in light of the critical role Steve played in bringing the technology to Rochester and accelerating its path to commercial success.

Don Golini, SANICA Ventures

Don Golini is a successful entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience in the development, management and commercialization of new technologies. As president and founder of QED Technologies (www.qedmrf.com), Don licensed a university technology and developed products that succeeded in global markets. Don is the former chairman of the Rochester Angel Network, served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at High Tech of Rochester, taught entrepreneurship at the University of Rochester, and serves on various boards. He received his B.S. in Optics from the University of Rochester and M.S. in Electro-Optics from Tufts University.

Annual Stephen D. Jacobs Memorial Talk

The Stephen D. Jacobs Annual Memorial Talk has been organized by the OSA-Rochester Section to honor the late Dr. Stephen D. Jacobs’s local and global contributions to the fields of optical materials, liquid crystals, optics manufacturing and educational outreach. Steve spent his entire career at the University of Rochester with appointments to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), Institute of Optics, Materials Science and Chemical Engineering departments. His research included topics such as phosphate laser glass, frequency conversion crystals, liquid crystal laser optics, optical finishing of glass, ceramics and crystals, magnetorheological finishing (MRF), cholesteric liquid crystal flakes for display applications, and laser damage in multilayer dielectric coatings. In addition to his significant technical contributions Steve also had a passion for educational outreach. He volunteered as the educational outreach chair for the OSA-Rochester Section for over 15 years during which time he developed and organized the Optics Suitcase program that has been instrumental in introducing hundreds of thousands of young children to the fields of optics and materials science throughout the US and globally in over 40 countries. Steve Jacobs touched many lives. We are honored to have this annual lecture in memory of our great colleague, friend and mentor