Update: Peter Smith, OSC alumnus, principal investigator of the Phoenix Mars Mission and instrument scientist of the blockbuster OSIRIS-REx mission, will deliver Tuesday's keynote address.

Affiliates, we planned our Spring 2012 Workshop with you in mind. We worked with our faculty members to ensure that you have the opportunity to hear about their most significant and exciting research initiatives. Our graduate students will present their research to you and — back by popular demand — our undergraduate seniors will present their senior capstone projects. Their presentation is a great opportunity for you to hear about what projects are being sponsored and to hear our graduating students present some cutting edge work. Those of you who attended our previous workshops had a hand in shaping these projects and in offering our students advice and real-world suggestions.

Our list of planned activities is extensive and includes a graduate student poster session and formal and informal opportunities to mingle with faculty and students.

Spring is an opportune time to begin thinking about your company's hiring needs, as seniors start their job search, and juniors and sophomores begin seeking out internship opportunities around this time frame. Please feel free to set up company information sessions or interviews with our students by contacting Anabel Garcia, events coordinator.

We have been conducting workshops since Jack Gaskill started our Industrial Affiliates program more than 30 years ago, and the workshops continue to be among our most eagerly anticipated events. It's always a great pleasure to spend time with our professional associates and to introduce our students and faculty members. If you haven't attended one of our workshops — either a Spring Workshop or a Fall Workshop — we sincerely hope you will consider joining us.

For more information, please contact:

Allison Huff 520-626-6737 or allison@optics.arizona.edu