NEWS: Dr. Steven Chu sworn in as new Secretary of Energy

January 21, 2009

Washington, DC - Dr. Steven Chu was sworn in as the Secretary of Energy on January 21, 2009. He leads the Department of Energy with a budget in excess of $23 billion and over 100,000 federal and contractor employees.

Dr. Chu won the Nobel Prize for his work developing methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light. "We recognized a huge opportunity to take leadership in the greening of the optoelectronics and photonics industry. We are excited to have Dr. Steven Chu speak on 19th May, 2009 at OPTOmism," stated OIDA's CEO and President, Michael Lebby. "His many accomplishments as a scientist and now his role as head of DOE will provide a unique perspective on an issue of global importance."

OPTOmism is a new conference focusing on green photonics and optoelectronics and will take place May 18th through 20th, 2009 in Santa Clara, CA. The event brings together technical and business leaders from diverse disciplines (www.optomism.com). The conference begins with an Executive & Investor Forum on the first day, followed by a two-day technical conference. OPTOmism will explore the role of optoelectronics, photonics, and optics in enhancing energy efficiency and competitiveness. Speakers will address topics such as solar photovoltaics, solid-state lighting, and sensors in parallel sessions of peer-reviewed presentations.

About OIDA

OIDA is a Washington DC-based, non-profit association that promotes optoelectronics. OIDA members include the leading providers of optoelectronic components and systems enabled by optoelectronics, as well as universities and research institutions. OIDA serves as the voice of industry to government and academia, acts as liaison with other industry associations worldwide, and provides a network for the exchange of ideas and information within the optoelectronics community. Learn more about OIDA at www.oida.org.

OIDA Editorial Contact:

David Iams
Director of Communications
(202) 785-4426
iams@oida.org