TBA, Vaisala, Vantaa, Finland
Photonics Company of the Year
Topic “TBA”
Vaisala is a global leader in measurement instruments and intelligence for climate action. We equip our customers with devices and data to improve resource efficiency, drive energy transition, and care for the safety and well-being of people and societies worldwide. With almost 90 years of innovation and expertise, we employ a team of over 2,300 experts committed to taking every measure for the planet.
Prof. Dr. Carsten Rockstuhl, Institute of Theoretical Solid State Physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany,
Topic “Scattering in Nanophotonic Systems”
Carsten Rockstuhl received his Ph.D. from the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in 2004. His dissertation focused on light interaction with micro- and nano-optical structures. Originally an experimentalist, he soon became captivated by the opportunity to investigate related phenomena through theoretical and computational approaches, and by the conclusion of his Ph.D .thesis, he was fully committed to advancing along this path. After postdoctoral research at AIST in Tsukuba, Japan he joined 2004 the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, as a research assistant and later as a Junior Professor. Since 2013, he has been a Full Professor at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he leads the Theoretical Nanooptics group. His research encompasses nanophotonics, plasmonics, metamaterials, and quantum optics.
Besides editorial roles in various journals, Carsten serves as the Dean of Studies for the Optics & Photonics program at KIT. He is committed to creating an atmosphere that fosters deep understanding and critical thinking in optics and photonics, equipping students with both foundational knowledge and cutting-edge insights to excel in this rapidly evolving field. He is also a Fellow of the Max Planck School of Photonics and a Fellow of Optica.
Professor. Dr. Ir. Roel Baets, Ghent University – IMEC
Department of Information Technology, Ghent, Belgium
Topic “TBA”
Roel Baets is an emeritus professor at Ghent University and imec. For many years he has chaired the Photonics Research Group at Ghent University – imec and has made contributions to research on integrated photonics (silicon, silicon nitride, III-V) and its applications in datacom/telecom as well as in medical and environmental sensing. He has founded and has chaired ePIXfab, the European Silicon Photonics Alliance, and continues to serve the silicon photonics community at large in advisory roles. He is a Fellow of IEEE, EOS and Optica. He has been recipient of amongst others the 2020 John Tyndall Award and the 2023 IEEE Photonics Award.
Herbert Ernst, PhD, Fluidics Strategy Capability Lead, Jabil Inc.
Topic “Bringing Photonics to Life: Navigating the Path from Development to Deployment“
Following his engineering studies and a PhD in microsystems engineering, Herbert Ernst started his professional career in applied research, focusing on system miniaturization and microfluidic system integration in healthcare. He soon transitioned into design and manufacturing, where he has spent over 20 years tackling the complex challenges of advanced system and technology integration, taking designs and technologies from concept to production.
In 2011, Herbert joined Jabil Inc. (www.jabil.com), where he currently serves as Strategic Capability Lead as part of Jabil’s global Advanced Manufacturing Technologies group. In this role he supports a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, home appliances, and server infrastructure. With all the unique requirements and challenges of each sector, Herbert is dedicated to a common objective: leveraging and democratizing innovative technologies to enhance performance.
