John Bowers: We are still at the dawn of photonics

Professor John Bowers has been a key contributing figure in the development of silicon photonics. In an interview, he reflects on his career, the technical advancements shaping silicon photonics, and its expanding role.

After 38 years at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Professor John Bowers (pictured) is stepping away from teaching and administrative roles to focus on research.

He welcomes the time it will free for biking and golf. He will also be able to linger, not rush, when travelling. On a recent trip to Saudi Arabia, what would have centered around a day-event became a week-long visit.

Bowers' career includes significant contributions to laser integration and silicon photonics, mentoring some 85 PhD students, and helping found six start-ups, two of which he was the CEO.

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Books of 2023 - Part 2

Gazettabyte asks industry figures to pick their reads of the year. In Part 2, Alan Liu, Yves LeMaitre, and, in this case, the editor of Gazettabyte list their recommended reads.

A foreign cathedral .... in RennesAlan Liu, CEO & Co-Founder at Quintessent Inc.

One book that left a deep impression on me is Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, a recounting and reflection by the author of his time as a prisoner in various concentration camps during WWII.

I listened to the audiobook mostly during commutes to work at the beginning of the year. Whatever challenges awaited me for the day, no matter how big, they seemed less daunting when reframed against the book's stories.

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ECOC '22 Reflections - Part 3

Gazettabyte is asking industry and academic figures for their thoughts after attending ECOC 2022, held in Basel, Switzerland. In particular, what developments and trends they noted, what they learned, and what, if anything, surprised them. 

In Part 3, BT's Professor Andrew Lord, Scintil Photonics' Sylvie Menezo, Intel's Scott Schube, and Quintessent's Alan Liu share their thoughts.

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