Chinese Committee for SPIE to Launch at SPIE/COS Photonics Asia

BELLINGHAM, WA--(Marketwire - November 7, 2007) - A new Chinese National Committee for SPIE (CNCS) will be celebrated during the SPIE/COS Photonics Asia symposium in Beijing, China, 11-15 November. The symposium will be held at the Jiuhua Grand Convention and Exhibition Center.

Professor Han Qide and Dr. Zhang Jiansheng will be among those attending the CNCS launch celebration, scheduled for 12 November. Professor Feng Changgen is also expected to attend.

Prof. Han is Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC); President of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), Western Returned Scholars Association (WRSA), and Chinese Overseas-returned Scholars Association (COSA); and Executive President of Peking University. Dr. Zhang is Director General of the Department of International Affairs of CAST. Prof. Feng is Executive Secretary of CAST and Executive Vice President of WRSA and COSA.

"SPIE is extremely pleased that this committee has been formed," said Kevin Harding, President-Elect of SPIE and Principal Engineer, Optical Metrology Technology Leader for GE Global Research. "We thank the Chinese Optical Society (COS) and other societies in China for their support."

Through CAST, the managing organization for the CNCS, the committee will help facilitate SPIE events in China, by:

--  helping SPIE and partnering Chinese societies to better achieve their
    goals for running efficient conferences and exhibitions of good quality
--  engaging key Chinese organizations and personnel in conferences and
    exhibitions
--  obtaining group visas for Chinese to attend events outside China
--  promoting information about SPIE and SPIE events in China
--  helping meeting organizers associated with the committee to promote
    their meetings in China.
    

More than 1,800 papers will be presented in technical sessions at Photonics Asia 2007, which is cosponsored by COS and SPIE. Photonics Asia provides a global forum for reporting and review of new developments in photonics and optoelectronics ranging from materials and devices to advanced systems and applications. The event includes panel discussions, a product exhibition showcasing cutting-edge technologies and applications, and opening-day plenary presentations on:

--  "Solid State Lighting in China," Jinmin Li, Institute of
    Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Science
--  "The National Ignition Facility: The World's Largest Optical System,"
    Christopher Stolz, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (USA)
--  "A Brief Introduction to Biophotonics with Selected Illustrative
    Examples," Arthur Chiou, National Yang-Ming Univ. (Taiwan, China)
--  "Terahertz Wave Photonics in Gas and Its Spectroscopic Applications,"
    X.-C. Zhang, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA)
    

Accepted papers reviewed by Photonics Asia 2007 conference chairs and program committees will be published in the SPIE Digital Library, and indexed in Inspec, Ei Compendex, ISI Index to Scientific and Technical Proceedings (ISTP), AIAA and other leading scientific indexes.

About SPIE:

SPIE is an international society advancing an interdisciplinary approach to the science and application of light. Serving the interests of its more than 188,000 active constituents representing 138 different countries, SPIE acts as a catalyst for collaboration among technical disciplines for information exchange, continuing education, publishing opportunities, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. As the organizer and sponsor of approximately 26 major conferences and education programs annually in North America, Asia, Europe, and the South Pacific, SPIE provides publishing, speaking, and learning opportunities on emerging technologies. For more information, visit http://SPIE.org.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Amy Nelson SPIE Public Relations Manager +1 360 685 5478