OSSP 2026 Full Schedule

Friday (07/08)

TimeEventDescription
9:30amOpening Remarks
10:00amIntroduction to Geometric OpticsA hands-on introduction to components that students would use in an optics lab. Concepts covered include: Refraction, Reflection, Fermat’s Principle, Lenses, and Mirrors.
10:50amBreak
11:10amGeometric Optics Live Demo (Basics of Lenses, and Mirrors)A demonstration of how we can use the thin lens equation to find the focus of a mirror or lens. How does a terrestrial telescope work?
12:00pmLunchProvided by OSSP!
1:00pmThe Wave Nature of Light 1An introduction to how light can be represented as an electromagnetic wave. This talk first defines the notion of a planewave and how it can be used to model solutions to Maxwell’s Equations. What is interference?
1:50pmBreak
2:10pmThe Wave Nature of Light 2A continuation of the discussion of interference of light, why it matters to us, and the notion of spatial and temporal “coherence”.
3:00pmBreak
3:10pmInvited Speaker: Dr. Eli Bourassa (Xanadu)our industry speakers about navigating a career in photonics!
4:00Day 1 Closing Remarks
5:00pmInvited Talk: Dr. Markus Arzberger (OSRAM)Hear from our industry speakers about navigating a career in photonics!

Saturday (08/08)

TimeEvent (Group A)DescriptionEvent (Group B)Description
9:30amPolarization 1An introduction to polarization, and polarization states of light.Lab Tour RotationsOSSP participants will be split into groups and tour participating photonics labs at UofT!
10:50amBreakBreak
11:10amLab Tour RotationsOSSP participants will be split into groups and tour participating photonics labs at UofT!Polarization 1An introduction to polarization, and polarization states of light.
12:00pmLunch (Provided by OSSP!)
1:00pmPolarization 2: Waveplates, Polarizers, BirefringenceRepresentations of polarization using Jones Vectors, and optical components that depend on polarization such as waveplates and polarizers. What is birefringence?Lab Tour RotationsOSSP participants will be split into groups and tour participating photonics labs at UofT!
1:50pmBreak
2:10pmLab Tour RotationsOSSP participants will be split into groups and tour participating photonics labs at UofT!Polarization 2: Waveplates, Polarizers, BirefringenceRepresentations of polarization using Jones Vectors, and optical components that depend on polarization such as waveplates and polarizers. What is birefringence?
3:00pmGraduate Student PresentationStudents will have the opportunity to explore the exciting research being conducted at the University of Toronto.Graduate Student PresentationStudents will have the opportunity to explore the exciting research being conducted at the University of Toronto.
4:00pmGraduate student PanelCurious about grad school? Discover what life is like as a graduate student!Graduate student PanelCurious about grad school? Discover what life is like as a graduate student!
5:10pmDay 2 Closing Remarks
5:30pmDinner (Provided by OSSP!)

Sunday (09/08)

TimeEvent (group A)DescriptionEvent (group B)Description
9:30amDiffraction and ImagingAn introduction to far-field diffraction, and its importance in optical imaging systems.Lab Tour RotationsOSSP participants will be split into groups and tour participating photonics labs at UofT!
10:50amBreakBreak
11:10amLab Tour RotationsOSSP participants will be split into groups and tour participating photonics labs at UofT!Diffraction and ImagingAn introduction to far-field diffraction, and its importance in optical imaging systems.
12:00pmLunchProvided by OSSP!LunchProvided by OSSP!
1:00pmResearch Talk: Dr. Kate Fenwick (NRC)Explore the groundbreaking optics research happening at the National Research Council of Canada.Graduate Student PanelHear from graduate students at UofT about their experiences and journeys into the world of optics & photonics research!
2:00pmClosing Remarks