Sept. 6 - 8 Conference Aims to Showcase, Strengthen Tucson Optics Cluster

Lori Stiles
Aug. 30, 2000


About 150 leaders in industry, academia, government and economic development will convene at the University of Arizona Science & Technology Park for the Sept. 6 - 8 conference, "Light - Harnessing the Power of Optics Valley."

The conference opens with a 5 p.m. reception Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Tucson East Hilton, 7600 E. Broadway. Scheduled speakers are City of Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, University of Arizona President Peter Likins, Arizona Department of Commerce Director Jackie Vieh, Arizona Optics Industry Association Chairman Bob Breault and Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) President Kim Soule. The reception is sponsored by the Greater Tucson Economic Council.

The conference and trade exhibition on Thursday and Friday will be held at the UA Science & Technology Park, 9040 S. Rita Road (northwest corner of I-10 and Rita Road). Sessions to be held in Building 9040 focus on:

  • The Role of the University in Optics Valley
  • State of Arizona Optics
  • Education & Industry Partnerships
  • Emerging Markets
  • The New Economy



Exhibitors will hold a special reception for university and college students on Thursday to give students a first-hand look at career options in the optics industry. Special Friday events feature a "School to Work" program that aims to introduce K - 12 students and their families to current technologies, as well as tours of local optics companies and of the UA Optical Sciences Center.

UA optical sciences faculty and staff speaking at sessions or leading tours include UA Vice President for Research & Development Richard Powell; Brian Catts of the UA Office of Economic Development; Professor Nasser Peyghambarian, Professor John Grievenkamp, Optical Sciences Center Director James Wyant, and Peter Wehinger of the UA Steward Observatory.

AAED organized the conference with support from Tucson Electric Power, Sierra SouthWest Cooperative Services, Inc., Touchstone Energy, the UA Science & Technology Park, T.L. Roof & Associates, the Arizona Department of Commerce, Arizona State University, Southwest Gas and other sponsors.

Registration costs $200. The full conference schedule is on the AAED web site at http://www.aaed.com/optics.html

For more information, contact Christine Parcelluzi of the AAED at 1-888-567-8793 (e-mail: Christine@aaed.com) Wade Nafzger of T.L. Roof & Associates at 520-792-0734 (e-mail: wnafzger@tlroof.com ) Betty Niles of B/N Arizona Realty at 520-884-4208, or Jason Ott of the UA Science & Technology Park at 520-621-4179 (e-mail: ottj@u.arizona.edu ).

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