SPIE Outreach Grants Program

Sixteen programs were selected for SPIE Outreach Grants in 2025, with awards totaling $37,500. The projects will inform and inspire diverse international audiences of all ages in a wide variety of ways. We are pleased to announce this year's recipients:

• Australian Institute of Physics (Australia): for “Mind-Bending Light,” which will develop and ruggedize a pre-existing optics and photonics outreach activity into a durable and professional outreach kit that can be taken to multitudes of schools and outreach events in the future.
• Ecole de Technologie Supérieure (Canada): for “Exploring Light: Photonics for Earth and Beyond” to celebrate the International Day of Light, which will include a dedicated workshop and a panel discussion showcasing photonics leaders in Quebec. This session will highlight career opportunities in photonics and explore how the field drives innovation for societal benefit, inspiring participants to envision their future within this cutting-edge industry.
• Foundation for STEM Education Nsawam (FSEN) (Ghana): for “Promoting Hands-On Teaching and Learning via Project-Based Activities at the Junior High School in Nsawam,” which will equip teachers with practical knowledge in photonics and optics and allow students to apply their new knowledge to build photonics and optics projects.
• Information Technology University of Punjab (Pakistan): for “Building Sustainable Virtual Accessibility and Professional Development Through Applied STEM Outreach Initiative Series for Underprivileged Suburbs of Muree District,” which is designed to bridge the gap in STEM education and career development opportunities for marginalized communities. It will include hands-on workshops, virtual lectures, and mentorship sessions that introduce fundamental and applied concepts of optics and photonics, making these fields approachable and engaging for participants with limited prior exposure.
• King's College London (United Kingdom): for “KCL Optics Ambassadors Programme,” which will establish an Optics Ambassador scheme for girls aged 16-17 years old from London state schools and traditionally underrepresented communities in STEM sciences.
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana): for “Light up Ghana: STEMMING Ghana’s Next Generation Through Optics and Photonics,” a week-long optics and photonics outreach event which includes lectures and hands-on activities designed to inspire, educate, and engage students and educators alike.
• Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur (India): for “Illuminating the Future: A Three-Day Celebration of the International Day of Light 2025,” a three-day celebration, synchronized with the International Day of Light, that aims to enlighten and captivate a broad audience about the marvels of light and its multifaceted applications. It will include lectures, practical demonstrations, competitive events, and research exhibitions.
• Montana State University (United States): for an International Day of Light event that will include three parts: a technical talk accessible to academia and industry professionals, a reception at the university with optics demonstrations, and talks centered around the use of light after the reception that will be open to the public.
• Multimedia University of Kenya (Kenya): for “School Outreach Program,” a series of outreach activities introducing students to the exciting fields of optics and photonics, to inspire their interest in STEM careers. Activities will include hands-on experiments, interactive demonstrations, and plenary talks. The program will culminate with a grand celebration of the International Day of Light on campus.
• Photonics Engineering Group – University of Cantabria (Spain): for “Photonics on the move across Cantabria!,” which seeks to enhance public understanding of optics and photonics within the Spanish region of Cantabria.
• Stanford University (United States): for “Ripple Tank Demo,” which will include multiple outreach events that will feature a classic demo for viewing wave phenomena, such as frequency, wavelength, interference, etc., primarily for students from traditionally underrepresented groups in the Bay Area of San Francisco.
• Stellenbosch University (South Africa): for “Annual Physics Outreach Road trip 2025,” an outreach initiative aimed at raising awareness among high-school pupils from different backgrounds in South Africa about the enriching opportunities of a career in physics and science in general. These demonstrations will illustrate a wide variety of easily digestible physics concepts, with a focus on photonics.
• Sydney Photonics Industry Network (Australia): for “IDL 2025 Sydney Photonics Industry Meet up,” an International Day of Light event focused on entrepreneurship in photonics technologies, targeting students, early startup founders, or industry professionals with innovative ideas. It strives to bring like-minded people together.
• Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Hyderabad (India): for “Light in Science, Technology, and Art," an International Day of Light 2025 event to increase optics and photonics awareness by providing engaging, hands-on experiences with tools like telescopes, fiber optics kits, and plasma balls. It will include expert talks and presentations highlighting the real-world applications of optics in fields such as healthcare, telecommunications, and space exploration.
• The University of Arizona United States): for “Optics on the Road: Expanding Outreach Outside Optics Valley,” which seeks to expand optics outreach to schools in communities outside the greater Tucson area with a high population of underrepresented groups in STEM, as well as schools lacking equity in larger cities in Arizona. It will include travel to five cities, with optics demonstrations at an elementary and high school at each one. Each trip will include a brief overview of optics and the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, and a few demonstrations. The events will culminate with students receiving hands-on optics activities to take home with them.
• Univ. de São Paulo Chapter (Brazil): for “Week of Light: Tour Through Optics + 2025 School Visits.” Its activities will include lectures, workshops, and visits to the laboratories of the Center for Lasers and Applications.

Congratulations to each nonprofit organization. Thank you for opening doors to the wonders of optics and photonics while sparking curiosity, igniting imaginations, and laying the groundwork for future innovation.

Make a difference through general optics and photonics outreach or International Day of Light (IDL)-specific events! Submit your proposal to receive up to $5,000.

The award process is competitive, and some proposals may receive partial funding.

The 2025 grant application closed on 1 December 2024. Check back soon to read about this year's recipients.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be current SPIE Members
• Qualifying not-for-profit organizations, such as universities, optics centers, science centers, primary and secondary schools, youth clubs, industry associations, and international optical societies, are eligible for outreach activity support, as long as the applicant is an SPIE Member. STEM activities must have an optics or photonics component.
• An endorsement from a staff member or advisor at the applying organization is required as part of the application process.

Evaluation criteria

The key criterion in evaluating and ranking applications is the potential to increase optics and photonics awareness and impact students and/or the larger community.

A point system is used to judge applications on:

• potential to impact chosen audience
• potential to raise awareness and interest in optics and photonics
• clarity and structure of the project
• clear timeline and budget

Please contact outreach@spie.org if you experience technical problems or have questions.