SPIE Charles University in Prague Chapter

http://www.spie.cz

Annual Report 2014-2015

Officers Advisor: Dr. Jan Franc franc@karlov.mff.cuni.cz

President: Tomas Popelar Popelar.T@seznam.cz

Vice President: Lukáš Šedivý luky.sedivy@seznam.cz

Secretary: Jakub Zázvorka zazvorka.jakub@gmail.com

Treasurer: Lukáš Nádvorník nadvornik.lukas@seznam.cz

Photographer: Dagmar Butkovičová dagmar.butkovicova@gmail.com

Current chapter members

Dagmar Butkovicova, Martin Hanus, Tomas Janda, Eva Jesenska, Miroslav Korinek, Lukas Nadvornik, Zuzana

Onderisinova, Jakub Pekarek, Martin Pokorny, Lukas Sedivy, Martin Zahradnik, Jakub Zazvorka, Vojtěch Vozda,

Lukáš Beran, Jan Salava, Tomas Popelar, David Wagenknecht, Helena Reichlova, Martin Brajer, Martin Rejhon

Introduction

Our chapter was established in June 2011 by students of the Masters programme Optics and

Optoelectronics, and Ph.D. students of Quantum Optics and Optoelectronics at Faculty of Mathematics and

Physics, Charles University in Prague. In the fourth year of the chapter’s existence we continue and develop

the activities established in the past years. Our biggest and most famous activity, demonstration of physics

experiments in high schools, was expanded and also prepared to continue without its “founding fathers”. This

was a big concern for us but we successfully found a way to get the new members into this activity. This is

probably due to the focus on social activities for our members which consisted of barbecue, bowling and this

year for the first time a visit of play in National Theatre. Sadly, number of our members decline which is mainly

due to the fewer number of students at our departments. We have currently 20 members.

Chapter activities

1. May 19th – 23rd 2014: Participation in the Institute of Physics outdoor seminar

The seminar consisted of lectures about current research at Institute of Physics. Several of our members have

participated, some of them had a presentation about some interesting optical topic (e.g. laser combs, IR

photography).

2. June 5th 2014: Visit of industrial complex Innomia a.s.

We have organized a visit into a company Innomia a.s. which focuses on 3D printing from metal and plastic

materials and could possibly provide job opportunities for our members after they graduate.

3. June 18th 2014: Barbecue

After the success of the Barbecue 2013 we have organized this event again with similar result. Majority of our

chapter members have attended and new members could be informally welcomed.

4. Lecture of visiting Professor Mauro F. Pereira, PhD, Dr. Sci

We have organized an interesting lecture of Professor Mauro F. Pereira, PhD, Dr. Sci, who told us about THz

radiation and its applications. The lecture was followed by common dinner with Chapter members where we

discussed more about the topic and also about SPIE activities.

5. SPIE Optics + Photonics conference in San Diego 2014

Every year at least one member attends SPIE Optics + Photonics conference in San Diego and the year 2014

was no exception. Our former President RNDr. Martin Pokorný had a poster about his research of quantum

dots with possible applications as light sources for optical fibers.

6. 15th October 2014: Chapter Officers election

The previous board has held a presentation about the activities in 2014. New members were formally

welcomed and were informed about the work of Chapter officers, so they could consider their own

nomination in future years. The elections were held and new Officers Board has begun its term.

7. 23th October 2014: Session for younger students

We have organized informal meeting with the students in the 2nd year of the bachelor’s study program

“General Physics” and offered them an opportunity to work on several optical projects run by our chapter

members. We also told them about SPIE involvement and possibilities which the membership offers.

8. October 26th 2014: Faculty Open Day

On October 26th our Faculty has prepared many presentations for high school students to encourage them to

study physics and mathematics. Since all the fields of physics were presented, our Chapter took part in

showing the optical experiments as well as giving general information about Optics and SPIE society.

9. December 19th 2014: Chapter Christmas party

The Chapter has organized the meeting for its members before they go to their families for Christmas. It was

also the time to reflect the activity throughout the year and discuss the future plans with our advisor, Prof.

Franc.

10. February 12nd 2015: One day with physics

Every year, our faculty arranges an informal meeting with high-school students and their teachers in order to

present them the university, faculty and the form of studying therein. Our chapter had one of the

presentations and we talked about our experiments on elementary and high schools.

11. March 27th 2015: Theatre

We have organized a visit of theatre play for our members to expand their cultural knowledge. The play was

held in National Theatre in Prague and definitely was something new and interesting for every attendee.

12. Demonstration of Physics experiments in high schools

Apart from these one-time activities we have firmly established a program for high school students where we

show them a lot of interesting experiments from several fields of physics at their schools which are meant to

awaken their interest natural sciences. We have two levels of the show, for children of 12-15 years and for

youngsters between 16-18 years. Since the first steps were funded by SPIE grant we show it also as an example

how the funding can be used to establish a new level of student activity. The program is so successful that we

are booked year in advance because we lack the manpower to go to more than 10 schools a year. We travel all

around The Czech Republic, focusing mainly on smaller towns which usually don’t have funding to the kind of

experiments we can.

Others

SPIE Travel Grant 2015: Dagmar Butkovicova has applied for this grant to attend the SPIE Optics +

Photonics conference in San Diego.

SPIE Officer Travel Grant 2014: Martin Pokorny has been awarded Officer Travel Grant to visit the conference

in August 2014. He attended the conference with a poster.

SPIE Officer Travel Grant 2015: Lukas Nadvornik has applied for this grant to attend the SPIE Optics +

Photonics conference in San Diego.

Future activities for 2015-2016

What we will organize:

May 18th – 22th Institute of Physics outdoor seminar

End of May Bowling

June Barbecue

Throughout the year Presentation of interesting physical experiments in high schools all around the Czech

Republic (at least five times)

June Annual Chapter meeting before the summer and holidays. Barbecue.

September/October Student Chapter 2015-2016 Officers Election.

Session with younger students about studying Optics and Optoelectronics

Participation in faculty Open day

December Christmas party

Prague, 30th April 2015

Tomas Popelar

Chapter president

Financial report for period 11/2014 - 4/2015

Incomes:

Student Chapter Activity Grant 900 USD (11/11/14) 19 028 CZK

Unspent finances from last year 0 CZK

Personal donations 401 CZK

__________

Sum 19 429 CZK

Expenses:

Students' project meeting- snacks, beverages (27/10/14) 3 423 CZK

Administration & office items 151 CZK

Expenses due to "Experiments on High Schools" 3 068 CZK

Christmas members' party (11/12/14) 4 000 CZK

Chapter culture event: National Theater (18/03/15) 1 260 CZK

__________

Sum 11 902 CZK

Total balance at the date of 13/05/2015 7 527 CZK

Further expected expenses by 10/2015:

All members' meeting & grill party (06/15) ~ 3 000 CZK

Chapter's outdoor seminar (05/15) ~ 3 000 CZK

Chapter's industry and innovation excursion (06/15) ~ 1 500 CZK

On Chapter members' behalf 13/05/2015

Lukáš Nádvorník

Treasurer