The 27th Annual Photonics Center Symposium

Photonics in Space

When:

April 9, 2026
Where:

Photonics Center, 8 Saint Mary’s St.,

Room 906, Boston, MA 02115

REGISTER HERE

Event Hosts:

Event Description

This symposium will feature talks from premier astronomy researchers across academia and industry discussing developments in imaging and spectroscopic technologies, superconducting techniques with South Pole telescopes, and usages of the EM spectrum for research on Mars, among other topics.

From our solar system to the first stars formed after the Big Bang, these experts’ optic and photonic innovations are advancing our understanding of the known––and unknown––universe.

Confirmed Speakers

Symposium Agenda:

8:30–9:00
Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00–9:10
Welcome | Joshua Semeter, Ph.D., Professor, Boston University
9:10–9:20
University Greeting | Thomas Bifano, Ph.D., Director, Photonics Center, Boston University
9:20–10:00
Probing the Beginning of Time with Superconducting Detectors at the Ends of the Earth | Kirit Karkare, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Boston University
10:00–10:40
Ultraviolet Mars: The Search for More Science | Justin Deighan, Ph.D., Research Scientist, University of Colorado, Boulder, LASP
10:40–11:00
Coffee Break
11:00–11:40
AI-In-The-Loop MEMS Optical Control | Kerri Cahoy, Ph.D., Professor, MIT
11:40–1:10
Lunch & Lunch Speakers | Brian Walsh, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Boston University & Majd Mayyasi, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, Boston University
1:10–1:50
Fluidic Telescope (FLUTE): From Puddles to Giant Space Observatories | Edward Balaban, Ph.D., Research Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center
1:50–2:30
Development and Validation of High-Contrast Imaging and Spectroscopic Technologies | Supriya Chakrabarti, Ph.D., Professor, UMass Lowell
2:30–2:50
Coffee Break
2:50–3:30
Photonic Data Highways: Engineering Resilient Laser Communication Between Earth and Space | Baris Erkman, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Aalaryia
3:30–3:40
Closing Remarks | Brian Walsh, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Boston University
3:40–5:10
Reception
Speaker Presentations:

Edward Balaban: Fluidic Telescope (FLUTE): From Puddles to Giant Space Observatories

Kerri Cahoy: AI-In-the-Loop MEMS Optical Control for Space Imaging and Lasercom

Supriya Chakrabarti: Development and Validation of High-Contrast Imaging and Spectroscopic Technologies

Justin Deighan: Ultraviolet Mars: The Search for More Science

Baris Erkmen: Photonic Data Highways: Engineering Resilient Laser Communication Between Earth and Space

Kirit Karkare: Probing the Beginning of Time with Superconducting Detectors at the Ends of the Earth

Please request disability and mobile accommodations to bethmath@bu.edu