Optical engineers do not prescribe eyeglasses for people with poor vision; that's an optometrist's job. What we do do is to design and build all sorts of optical devices, including lasers, fiber optics, imaging systems, and other devices that can make life easier. Lasers can cut anything from steel to human skin. Fibers carry telephone conversations around the world. Imaging systems aid in the production of even smaller computer chips for computer manufacturers. These are few of the myriad modern uses of optics. A Reassuring part about our job is that optical engineers are in demand in contemporary industry. We like to believe that these jobs are interesting, difficult and worthwhile.
Those of us partial to the study of optics (AOs) are seeking to become
a student chapter of the professional society
SPIE, The International Society for Optical
Engineering. Details on this pursuit to follow...
Physicists are important, too.
We are the ones that play with the low temperature devices to reach absolute zero. We are the people that are trying to make fusion work in order to change the face of the world with a new and efficient energy source. We do all of these things and much more. Every science, from chemistry to geology, from meterology to engineering, depends on the rules and ideas set forth by us. We are trying to figure out where, why, and how the universe came to be. By studying quasars to look back into time for when the universe was young, we have a glimpse on the past. By stidying nonlinear systems, we have a chance to try and guess what will happen in thte future of the world. If you are interested in physics but are uncertain as to whether or not there is an area that interests you, then you can become one of the few physics majors out there.
What else is there to do with this page?
- Find out about SCOPE activities:
- Argon/Dye laser rehabilitation
- LEGO-based Michelson interferometer
- Trips to industry
- Optics and Physics demonstrations
- SCOPE/PHAO picnic
- Rose Show
- Radio Telescope
- See images from our labs:
- Check out a grand optics links page written by Robin Harvey. (It includes some links that could help you find a job!)
- Return to Rose-Hulman groups.
- Check out the Rose-Hulman Physics and Applied Optics page.
- Click here to check out a nifty laser introduction by Rose graduate student and SCOPE member Mark Stovall:
Do you have comments, additions, questions, or suggestions? Was this page so interesting that you now want to join SCOPE?
Email the SCOPE vice-president, Dan; he is now the page designer.
(The remainder was adopted from an earlier edition (vintage 1998) by Mark Stovall, Rose-Hulman graduate student, and later Brian, present president.)
Any pages within this document were updated on 5 May 1999.