Throughout history

there have been many outstanding women whose achievements continue to impress and amaze us today. For example

in the field of science

Madame Marie Curie was the first woman Nobel Prize winner and the only person to be awarded a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields. From China

Tu Youyou is a Nobel laureate who discovered artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin

used to treat malaria

a breakthrough in twentieth-century tropical medicine

saving millions of lives around the globe. Businesswomen such as Angela Ahrendts

a former fashion executive who helped revitalize Apple

Inc.

and Sheryl Sandberg

Chief Operating Officer of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook)

are recognized as two of the world's most influential business leaders.

Now

more than ever

women are at the forefront of developments in optics and photonics research and business. One of those leaders is Elizabeth Rogan

CEO of Optica (formerly the Optical Society and the Optical Society of America.) As the executive in charge of an organization devoted to promoting the generation

application

archiving

and dissemination of knowledge in optics and photonics worldwide

Ms. Rogan has successfully expanded the depth and breadth of Optica's technical and global reach. Her education and expertise are in industry

finance

and strategy. She utilizes these skills in partnership with a large and technically diverse group of Ph.D. volunteers and staff specialists. Combining the efforts of these many talented people with a unity of purpose has proven to be a highly effective approach for Rogan and the association she has led for nearly two decades.

Ms. Rogan is a strong advocate for women. For instance

the association's "Faces of Optica" campaign features a wide range of accomplished women in research and applications. And she was an enthusiastic participant in the "Rose in Science

" which celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of women scientists.

Light Special Correspondents interviewed Elizabeth Rogan about Optica's legacy

culture

and personal experiences as its CEO in this issue. She also discussed the reasons behind the recent rebranding of the organization and the bonds of friendship the Changchun Institute of Optics

Fine Mechanics and Physics

Chinese Academy of Sciences

and Optica have built over the years.

Please join us for an in-depth look at why this century-plus-year-old organization has a fresh new vision for the future.