NSF recently announced 54 teams chosen for the VITAL Prize Challenge Semi-Final Round, an initiative to support "teams developing novel learning technologies with entrepreneurial training, customer discovery support, seed funding and mentorship to build K-12 learning innovations for adoption nationwide." One team selected includes Ameé Hennig, Wyant College Media Content Manager, Prof. Allison Huff, Assistant Prof. at UArizona College of Medicine, and Vincent Hood, Illustrator and member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to take the new OPTI 596: Computational Imaging and Machine Vision Seminar with Prof. Florian Willomitzer. Are you motivated to understand the basic principles of computational imaging and machine vision? Are you interested in learning more about the practical applications in topics such as industrial inspection, VR/AR/MR, robotics, medical imaging, remote sensing, automotive sensing, metrology, forensics, or cultural heritage preservation? Then this would be a great course for you!
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Abbie Watnik

Uncontrolled environments – either natural or manmade – impact how light propagates and is detected. Various scenarios such as atmospheric turbulence, laser threats, camouflage, turbid or scattering conditions (underwater, fog, sand, etc.), all affect light propagation, detection and ultimately our ability to sense and image the world around us. In this talk, I will provide an overview of research at the US Naval Research Laboratory that utilize active imaging approaches to provide successful image reconstructions when the environment for collecting photons limits conventional approaches to imaging.

An article submitted by Associate Professor Mohammed Hassan was recently published by "The Conversation," an independent publisher of articles authored by academics for the general public. Titled, "The digital future may rely on ultrafast optical electronics and computers," the article focuses on his research into ultrafast optical switching. The article has been republished by The San Francisco Times and BusinessMirror.

The Polarization Lab is seeking volunteers* for a project about eye polarimetry in near-infrared. Participants will have their eyes measured using a Mueller polarimeter, providing insights into the polarization properties of the iris. Plus, you'll receive the processed polarimetric data after the measurement, in other words—rainbow eye pictures!