Session 09

Learning by doing: Optics Lab tour

Hands-on learning through laboratory experiments is a critical component of a well-rounded physics education. This workshop will discuss optics and photonics demos and labs. We will explore fiber-optics and sensors that can be used to measure a variety of parameters such as: temperature, pressure, strain, gas concentration, magnetic field, etc. These have extensive applications in civil engineering, oil & gas industry, aerospace and other areas. This lab session and tour will include a demonstration of a cost-effective fiber-optic temperature sensor that was developed by undergraduate students.?

Biography

Li Wei received her Ph.D. in physics from the University of Waterloo. In 1999 she joined Exploratory Research Group, JDS Uniphase in Ottawa as a Research Scientist and subsequently worked as an Optical Engineer in Lightwave Solutions Inc, San Diego, California. She is currently Professor at the Department of Physics and Computer Science, Wilfrid Laurier University, ON, Canada, and also an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo. Her research interests include plasmonics, integrated optics, optical communication, and optical-sensor technology.