Contact: Dr. A. H. Guenther, 272-7003 Media Contact: Michael Padilla, 277-1816

Feb. 3, 2003 UNM Professor Guenther to focus on optics research in Africa Research Professor Arthur H. Guenther of the University of New Mexico Center for High Technology Materials has been asked by the president of the International Commission for Optics (ICO) to focus his activities on growing an optics enterprise in Africa. The request was made by ICO President Rene Dandliker of Neuschatal, Switzerland. Guenther recently attended the 6th African Laser, Atomic, Molecular and Optical Sciences Network ( LAM) Symposium in Tunis, Tunisia. More than 30 nations were represented including 16 from Africa. Guenther spoke on a “Comprehensive Photonics Education Program, ‘The Albuquerque Model.’” “Without question our extensive optics education program in Albuquerque from middle school to post graduate levels continues to garner both national and international recognition,” Guenther said. Guenther recently completed a three-year term as the elected president of ICO, an organization of some 50+ nations under the umbrella of the Internal Council of Scientific Unions. During his term membership increased by more than 10 percent in member nations and 70 percent of international member societies. Additionally, he edited a text “International Trends in Applied Optics” with contributors from throughout the world, the royalties of which go towards the funding of optics educational activities in developing nations, a principal focus of ICO. Guenther has a long and distinguished career of service to New Mexico from optics to defense to education to technology-based economic development serving in the past as the first legislated science advisor to several governors. Guenther is the previous chief scientist of the Air Force Weapons Laboratory and held a similar position at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was instrumental in the creation of the New Mexico Optics Industry Association in 1998. For the past 30 years, Guenther has frequently represented the International Society for Optical Engineering as a liaison and participated on numerous optics-related boards and committees. He chaired the defense and manufacturing sections of the “Harnessing Light, Optical Science and Engineering for the 21st Century” report which brought optics and photonics to the forefront of national and global consciousness. Guenther actively participated as an advisor in the formation of optics clusters throughout the world. In addition, he is a pioneer in laser activities and directed energy. ###

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