The Spotlight Report

The Spotlight Report
The Spotlight Report

The Spotlight Report is a podcast in which we discuss science, research, and other topics with the goal of educating and critically exploring different topics. Additionally, the human side of science is often under appreciated and not discussed, thus, it is a huge effort to capture and explore the less talked about joys and struggles of the sciences with a focus on the humanity that powers the cutting edge discoveries of our world. Take a listen and leave a comment!

  1. Kashmira Nakhoda on The Journey from Large Optics Metrology to X-Ray Synchrotron Application Design and Metrology

    02/10/2024

    Kashmira Nakhoda on The Journey from Large Optics Metrology to X-Ray Synchrotron Application Design and Metrology

    Dr. Kashmira Nakhoda sat down to discuss her journey through optics. Kashmira shared her early work on metrology and scattering modeling of the DKIST 4.2 m primary mirror and how she progressed to X-Ray synchotron application metrology and design. She also explored what makes a lab group, or any group, great to be a part of, how to continue learning, and how she has arrived at her current position of having a consulting business, RayKi Consulting. This was a really great discussion, and Kashmira shared not only her incredible optics knowledge, but also her valuable perspective on a career in optics. I hope you enjoy as much as I did. References: DKIST Fabrication and Metrology: http://www.loft.optics.arizona.edu/documents/journal_articles/DKIST_SPIE_2016_CJO.pdf2) PSD from Smooth Surfaces: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/8838/883805/Use-of-the-surface-PSD-and-incident-angle-adjustments-to/10.1117/12.2024612.short PSF Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_spread_function Instantaneous Sagnac Interferometer: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0030399222003255?via%3Dihub Coded Aperture for X-Ray Fluorescence Full Field Imaging: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/iucr/doi/10.1107/S1600577520012308 Jonathan Livingston Seagull: https://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Richard-Bach/dp/147679331X 2D PSF Prediction for Multiple Reflections: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/9961/1/Two-dimensional-PSF-prediction-of-multiple-reflection-optical-systems-with/10.1117/12.2235410.short#_=_ Novel Methods in PSF Prediction (Dissertation): https://www.politesi.polimi.it/handle/10589/133575?locale=it

    1h 28m
  2. Travis Sawyer on Early Cancer Detection with Multimodal Optical Imaging

    06/09/2024

    Travis Sawyer on Early Cancer Detection with Multimodal Optical Imaging

    Dr. Travis Sawyer, Professor of Optical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Health Sciences, and Medicine, was kind enough to speak with me about how multimodal optical imaging can improve early cancer diagnosis in ovarian and esophageal cancers. Travis discusses existing diagnostic methods, the need for improved techniques and why OCT, two-photon imaging, and fluorescence hold potential for cancer diagnostics. He expanded upon how these methods can be combined in a compact physical form via endocscopy, and the challenges with combining imaging results, and the future for the field. I hope you enjoy as much as I did; Dr. Sawyer is advancing not only a highly interesting field, but one that holds a potential for improving humanity in a very tangible way. Links: 1) Dr. Sawyer's Lab - Biomedical Optics and Optical Measurement Laboratory: https://wp.optics.arizona.edu/tsawyer/ 2) Dr. Sawyer's Dissertation: https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/657772 3) Dr. Jennifer Barton's Lab: https://bmeoptics.engr.arizona.edu/ 4) Texture Analysis of OCT in ovarian tissue: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6560/aaefd2/meta 5) Evaluation of illumination system uniformity for wide-field biomedical hyperspectral imaging :https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2040-8986/aa6176/meta 6)Fluorescence and Multiphoton Imaging for Tissue Characterization of a Model of Postmenopausal Ovarian Cancer: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/lsm.23251 7) Milford Track: https://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/milford-track/

    1h 9m
  3. Hyemin Yoo on the Sine Condition Test, Deflectometry, and Optical Alignment

    01/08/2024

    Hyemin Yoo on the Sine Condition Test, Deflectometry, and Optical Alignment

    I spoke with Hyemin Yoo, who recently completed her dissertation on a combined Sine Condition/Deflectometry test method for optical alignment. Hyemin discusses the methodology in detail, starting with an introduction to the background of optical alignment, the sine condition test, and deflectometry. She then explores how to define a robust test approach, including simulations and as built test methods. Her approach, termed SCT+, provided an excellent optical alignment performance, in simulated and real world tests, of tens of nanometers. I hope you enjoy. Links 1) Contact Hyemin directly for her dissertation: ⁠hyoo030@arizona.edu⁠ 2) Alignment with a combination of deflectometry and the sine condition test ⁠https://opg.optica.org/ao/abstract.cfm?uri=ao-62-7-1677 3) Pioneers in Optics: Ernst Abbe (1840-1905) https://academic.oup.com/mt/article/17/1/38/6820661?login=false 4) Fundamentals of Geometrical Optics by Virendra Mahajan https://spie.org/Publications/Book/2053717#_=_ 5) J.H. Burge, C. Zhao, M. Dubin, and S. Lampen. Determination of off-axis aberrations of imaging systems using on-axis measurements. In Novel Optical Systems Design and Optimization XIV, volume 8129, page 81290F. SPIE, 2011. Backup Publisher: International Society for Optics and Photonics. 6) T.T. Elazhary, P. Zhou, C. Zhao, and J.H. Burge. Generalized sine condition. 54(16):5037–5049, 2015. Publisher: OSA.

    1h 39m
  4. Pearl John on Utilizing Holography for Art and Outreach

    24/04/2024

    Pearl John on Utilizing Holography for Art and Outreach

    Dr. Pearl John sat down to discuss her work in art, holography, and optics outreach. Pearl discusses her artwork, which touches upon both the very human side of time, memories, and relationships, as well as pieces that help to promote and explain complex science topics. Throughout her work, a common feature is the use of art, and holograms, to convey and speak to these concepts. In addition, or perhaps as part of, her art, Pearl also has been active in performing optics outreach, and fostering excitement and joy at learning more about optics. Pearl's work is remarkable, and her approach helps to explore the boundary between art, science, and humans involved in both. I hope you enjoy as much as I did! Resources: 1) Pearl's Website: https://www.pearljohn.co.uk/ 2) Lights Express: http://www.lightexpress.soton.ac.uk/ 3) Robotic Vision and Virtual Interfacings, Pearl John as co-author: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-robotic-vision-and-virtual-interfacings.html Artists working with Holography 5) Paula Dawson PhD- To Absent Friends (large transmission hologram art piece of a working bar https://vimeo.com/74709932 (Video) 6) Isabel Azevedo PhD: Artist specialising in large format digital animated holography: https://www.isabelazevedo.com/ Holography Galleries and Exhibitions (including educational facilities). 7) The Center for Holographic Arts (HoloCenter) USA https://holocenter.org/artist (Features work by Margaret Benyon PhD- a UK artist who was the first to use Holography as an art medium) and Pearl John. 8) Gallery 286 - and the Jonathan Ross Holography collection. UK. http://www.jrholocollection.com/ London UK. The collection is open to the public on invitation. Please contact Jonathan Ross to request a visit. 9) Dados Negros Contemporary Art and Holography , Madrid, Spain. https://www.dadosnegros.com/exposicio... (Exhibition I'm featured in 11 May - 8 September 2024. Photonics Outreach activities Pearl has been involved with: 10) The Future Manufacturing Photonics Hub - outreach resources: https://www.photonicshubuk.org/outreach/ at the University of Southampton. 11) Photonics Workshop ideas for teachers/educators (including Holography Workshops) http://www.phablabs.eu/photonics-work... Photographer we discussed: 12) Julia Margaret Cameron (1815 – 1879) was one of the most important early photographers and is now recognized the world over as a pioneer of photography as art. Her home and studio in the Isle of Wight UK has been turned into a museum/permanent exhibition: https://www.dimbola.co.uk/

    1h 13m

About

The Spotlight Report is a podcast in which we discuss science, research, and other topics with the goal of educating and critically exploring different topics. Additionally, the human side of science is often under appreciated and not discussed, thus, it is a huge effort to capture and explore the less talked about joys and struggles of the sciences with a focus on the humanity that powers the cutting edge discoveries of our world. Take a listen and leave a comment!

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