Celebrating the Legacy of the Siegman School

When the Siegman International School on Lasers launched in 2014, it did so with clear ideals to guide it: the curiosity, passion, knowledge and drive of its namesake, Anthony (Tony) E. Siegman, 1999 Optica president and Optica Honorary Member. A renowned engineer, educator, author and leader, Siegman was widely recognized as a champion of knowledge among his students, colleagues and the industry at large. 

His legacy lives on in today’s Siegman School. As part of its 10th anniversary celebration, at the 2024 School, Eric Van Stryland, 2006 Optica president and a friend of Siegman’s, shared a number of stories from past attendees. From accounts of meeting their first Nobel Prize winners to stories recalling puns passed between faculty and speakers, alumni consistently reiterated that the Siegman School offers a truly unique and memorable program. 

"The rich experiences attendees have at the Siegman School speak to the environment we were hoping to cultivate in Tony’s memory. It’s an honor to continue his legacy in this program,” Van Stryland stated. 

Designed to emphasize ways in which optics serves the world, the school focuses on a wide variety of topics and features prominent speakers. For instance, at the 2024 School, Optica Fellow and ultrafast expert Ursula Keller offered the session, “Ultrafast Lasers,” while Optica Fellow and Coherent CTO Julie Eng presented “Commercial Laser Applications.” Other presentations addressed areas from nonlinear optics to quantum computers, programmable photonics, silicon photonics, frequency comb spectroscopy, biophotonics and more. 

“At the Siegman School, we were able to dive deeper into areas of laser science with the authorities in the field. It offered a high-quality experience and the chance to meet so many famous scientists who paved the way for where we are today,” said Ignacio Papuccio, 2024 Siegman School attendee. “Plus, I had the chance to be in the place where laser physics started and be a part of that history.”

Building a legacy

The Siegman School has become a mainstay of Optica Foundation programs over the past decade, and appropriately, the initial concept drew Siegman’s personal involvement. As an advocate of global education, he was one of a handful of dedicated Optica members who spearheaded efforts in 2011 to introduce a new global summer school. This school aimed to bring together students from around the world for collaboration and information exchange. With Siegman’s support, the inaugural program launched in Changchun, China, drawing 100 students from 13 different countries. 

However, not long after the program convened, Siegman passed away unexpectedly. The community quickly sought a way to honor his mission of knowledge sharing. 
In 2012, Gary Bjorklund, 1998 Optica president and former chair of the Optica Foundation, met with the Optica Foundation Board to gain its support for the creation of the Siegman International School on Lasers. With the board members’ overwhelming approval, Bjorklund and the committee raised US$1 million to endow the school, bolstered by the support of three major gifts from IPG Photonics and Burt and Deedee McMurty. 

“Tony’s impact was so wide that when approached, people wanted to help support a program that reflected his legacy,” Bjorklund shared. 

Ongoing impact

The community’s efforts paid off, and the Siegman International School on Lasers officially launched in early August 2014, at Siegman’s teaching alma mater: Stanford University, USA.

“The Siegman School gave ample time for one-on-one conversation with some of the most respected researchers in all of optics. I also enjoyed getting to meet so many other students from around the world and learn about their research,” shared 2014 attendee Joseph Lukens.  

The Siegman School curriculum is designed to encourage questions, discussions and dialogue. With Siegman’s own curious nature and drive in mind, the goal is to spark innovative ideas and connections among attendees. In addition, as a defining attribute of the Siegman School, experts speak to the field’s history and future with a broad brush, and those talks are supported by deep-dive sessions on a wide variety of fields, helping to increase attendees’ awareness of various disciplines within optics and photonics. 

“The Siegman School was a kaleidoscope of knowledge, opening my eyes to vibrant new perspectives that my personal research had never even seen," said Venus Dillu, a 2014 attendee. "It was there that I stumbled upon the spark for a multi-disciplinary research project that ignited a whole new trajectory for my career. My professional journey has blossomed into a vibrant tapestry, thanks to the time I spent at the Siegman School.” 

Looking to the future

With the 2024 event celebrating 10 years of impact—more than 1,000 students have attended from over 500 different universities and more than 60 countries—the future continues to look bright for the Siegman School. The dedication of the community, the growth in the field and the enthusiasm of the students and alumni speak volumes about where it’s headed. 

“The Siegman School has exceeded every one of my expectations,” said Andres Albanese, a long-time program donor. “It’s easy to give when you know that you’re supporting something truly distinct that is making a life-long impact on its attendees.”

The Siegman School strives to impress upon young scholars the transformative power of optics, the field’s global impact and the rewarding career and community that it offers. As the Siegman School grows, the Optica Foundation continues to look for ways in which to enhance its offerings, in line with Siegman’s legacy. Over the next few years, the foundation is working to expand the program’s endowment to US$2.5 million to better support the growing demand for the school. 

“There could be no more fitting honor to Tony’s legacy than all the Siegman School has come to represent,” said Jeannie Siegman. “The school has firmly established a strong academic standard, while fostering an environment where dedication coupled with openness invite collaboration and mutual growth. In his own lifetime, Tony inspired generations of learners who felt supported and motivated to contribute to one another’s success, and, moreover, to pay it forward. This spirit has become the basis for a lasting ethic of generosity and mentorship, ensuring that the positive impacts of their careers would ripple outward, benefiting future generations."  

For more information on the Siegman International School of Lasers or how to support the program, visit optica.org/SiegmanSchool.