Posted on: Thursday, October 9, 2003

Money to go to UH photonics program

Associated Press

A gift of $500,000 will cover half of a $1 million endowment for the University of Hawai'i's engineering school, which will use the money to create a position in the field of photonics, the science underlying speed-of-light information technology, officials said.

Advanced Photonics Integrated Circuits will give $500,000 and help the university raise the rest for what will be the university's 24th fully endowed professorship, university officials said.

While the university's College of Engineering offers some courses in photonics, the endowment will allow the college to offer a whole set of classes in the areas of photonics, said Vassilis Syrmos, associate dean of the College of Engineering.

The classes will also benefit astronomy students and students in the College of Natural Sciences, he said.

The classes will be taught at a photonics laboratory being built in Kaka'ako that will be accessible to faculty and students, Syrmos said.

Advanced Photonics Integrated Circuits is working on advanced photonic chips that integrate the optical side with the electronic side of the communication system, he said.

The Department of Defense is the company's main customer, and the university will be involved with some of the research and development being done for the government.

"We are very excited about working in Hawai'i and especially about working so closely with the University of Hawai'i," said Bahar Dutt, chairman of the board of Advanced Photonics Integrated Circuits.

"Building a major photonics prototyping facility with world class equipment and tools will create a foothold for large-volume commercial technology development in Hawai'i."