Donna Stickland (University of Waterloo, Canada)

Donna Strickland is a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Waterloo, best known for co-recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics alongside her PhD supervisor Gérard Mourou for developing chirped pulse amplification during her doctoral studies at the University of Rochester. This groundbreaking 1985 research paved the way for the most intense laser pulses ever created, a field she continues to advance through her ultrafast laser group at Waterloo, which she joined in 1997 after positions at the National Research Council Canada, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Princeton University. An alumnus of McMaster University (B.Eng.) and the University of Rochester (PhD), Strickland’s distinguished career includes serving as president of the Optical Society in 2013, being named a Companion of the Order of Canada, and receiving numerous accolades, such as her election to the Australian Academy of Science in 2025 and winning the 2026 K-W Oktoberfest Woman of the Year award in STEM.

Carlos Antón Solanas (University of Madrid)

Photocredits: BBVA Foundation

“Quantum photonic applications with quantum materials”

This lecture introduces quantum photonic applications by bridging quantum optics with protocols in communication and information processing. After a quantum description of light, probabilistic and deterministic generation strategies are compared, with a focus on solid-state platforms like semiconductor quantum dots and their integration into nanophotonic structures. The session explores how these photonic states enable technologies such as quantum key distribution, teleportation, and repeaters, concluding with the challenges and future perspectives for scalable quantum networks and processors.

Dr. Carlos Antón Solanas (PhD, U Madrid, 2015) is a “Talent Attraction” researcher at the Autonomous University of Madrid, specializing in solid-state quantum optics and single-photon sources. Following postdoctoral work at CNRS and in Germany, he is now a principle investigator of several copetitive projects, including a European QuantERA 2023 consortium. His research focuses on quantum dots and emerging materials like hexagonal boron nitride coupled to photonic cavities. With over 50 publications, he has received the 2024 UAM Young Researchers Award and a 2023 BBVA Leonardo Scholarship.

Jürgen Popp (Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology & University of Jenna)

Top left: compact CARS/TPEF/SHG fiber probe; top right: CARS/SHG/TPEF image of head and neck tissue section; bottom left: pathological gold standard H&E image; bottom right: MDR compatible Raman fiber probe system for in-vivo use in operation rooms

copyright Döhring Leibniz-IPHT

“Raman-Based Photonic Technologies for Infection Diagnostics and Intraoperative Cancer Guidance“

Raman-based technologies have emerged as a powerful complement to traditional fluorescence, offering unprecedented molecular specificity for life sciences and biomedical research. Although spontaneous Raman scattering is limited by low sensitivity, signal-enhancing techniques such as resonance Raman and coherent Raman scattering (CARS) effectively overcome these barriers. These linear and nonlinear modalities enable the label-free characterization of diverse biological systems, ranging from single prokaryotic cells to whole organs. The clinical utility of these approaches is demonstrated through two primary frontiers: rapid microbial analysis for infection diagnostics and intraoperative tumor characterization. By integrating spectral fingerprints with machine learning, high-content phenotyping of pathogens and immune responses becomes possible. Furthermore, fiber-based probes and multimodal nonlinear imaging—combining CARS with two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second-harmonic generation (SHG)—provide real-time morphochemical contrast for surgical guidance. Collectively, these advancements establish a versatile biophotonic toolbox for “see-and-treat” protocols, bridging fundamental photonics with translational oncology and infectious disease management.

Jürgen Popp is a leading expert in biophotonics and optical health technologies, serving as the Chair of Physical Chemistry at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Scientific Director of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz-IPHT). His research encompasses the entire innovation chain, with a primary focus on translating Raman spectroscopic approaches and AI-based methods into clinical diagnostics and therapeutics. A highly prolific scientist with over 1,140 publications and 21 patents, he has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Award and an honorary doctorate from the University at Albany. Beyond his research, he is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Biophotonics and the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, and he leads major national infrastructures like the Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI) to accelerate translational photonic systems.

Christine Hellweg (DLR, Köln) 

“Space Life Sciences“

Setting foot on uninhabited planets or moons is a great dream of humankind. To make this dream become true, the effects of space travel on the human body and biological systems have to be understood and mitigated. Space life sciences is a multidisciplinary field focused on mitigating the physiological and psychological risks of long-duration space travel, such as microgravity and cosmic radiation. By integrating molecular biology, radiation dosimetry, and clinical research, the field develops countermeasures to ensure astronaut safety and explore the potential for life beyond Earth. This overview highlights recent advancements in maintaining biological health, transitioning from ground-based analog simulations to actual microgravity environments.

PD Dr. med. vet. Christine E. Hellweg (2001 Dr. med. vet., 2012 Habilitation) is Vice Director of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, Germany, since January 2025. Before, she was head of the Department of Radiation Biology at the same Institute addressing aerospace-related topics concerning the effects of radiation on humans and the biosphere, as well as characterizing the unique radiation field in space. She studied veterinary medicine at the Free University (FU) of Berlin and specialized in radiation biology afterwards. She was and is Principal Investigator (PI) of numerous heavy ion beam time experiments at the French heavy ion accelerator GANIL and at GSI in Germany. She teaches at the FU Berlin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Immunology), at the University of Mainz, and at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Germany (Radiation Biology).

Dirk Richter (Quanta 3, University of Colorado Boulder, USA)

„Advancing Trace Gas Detection: Novel Tunable Laser Sources and Spectrometers for Atmospheric Chemistry and Emission Monitoring“

The air we breathe contains trace gases often invisible and odorless that profoundly influence human health, climate, and environmental processes through complex atmospheric and biospheric cycles. Anthropogenic and natural emissions of key gases such as methane, CO₂, and reactive species drive these impacts, yet their accurate measurement remains challenging.

This presentation highlights the development and application of advanced mid-infrared tunable laser sources and high-sensitivity spectrometers designed to address these challenges. Drawing from two decades of airborne atmospheric research and subsequent commercialization, the talk presents selected innovations, including compact laser-based sensors for ultra-sensitive detection in field and industrial settings. Examples span fundamental studies of atmospheric chemistry (e.g., from polar to equatorial missions) to real-world commercial emission monitoring for regulatory compliance and environmental protection.

Attendees will gain insights into the technological advancements enabling precise, real-time gas measurements, the transition from research to practical deployment, and the broader implications for air quality, climate science, and emission reduction strategies.

Dr. Dirk Richter is the Founder and CEO of Quanta3 and a Research Affiliate at the University of Colorado Boulder (INSTAAR). With over 20 years of experience in airborne atmospheric science, he has led the development of ultra-sensitive laser spectrometers for NASA, NOAA, and NSF missions to measure trace gases. Holding a PhD from Rice University and multiple patents, Dr. Richter specializes in transitioning fundamental research into commercial environmental monitoring solutions

Martin Beye (University of Stockholm & DESY) 

“Ultrafast Spectroscopy in and on Solid Matter” 

This presentation will discuss how ultrashort X-ray pulses from the most modern particle-accelerator-based photon sources can be used to understand dynamics in solid matter as well as on solid surfaces. Such methods are applied to elucidate processes at the atomic level that can be utilized for novel functionalized materials as well as for optimizing reactions in the chemical industry. X-rays have the advantage of being highly penetrating, selective to different atomic constituents and being able to resolve the atomic scale. With intense, ultrashort pulses now being available, generated from kilometer-long accelerators, we can obtain an unprecedented view on the structure of matter and the motion of electrons between atoms. The presentation will give an overview of the available sources of such pulses, how these unique photons are generated and how X-ray spectroscopy can be used to generate an understanding. Some research highlights will be shown together with their potential applications and impact.

Prof. Dr. Martin Beye is a Professor of Chemical Physics at Stockholm University and a former scientific head of the FLASH X-ray free-electron laser facility. Having earned his PhD from Hamburg University and conducted research in Stanford and Berlin, he specializes in developing X-ray spectroscopy methods to study atomic-level catalytic processes. His work focuses on observing the breaking and creation of chemical bonds to advance sustainable chemical energy and catalyst design.

Christoph Russmann (HAWK, Göttingen)

“Photonics in Ophthalmology: From Femtosecond Laser Surgery to Functional Corneal Engineering“

The field of ophthalmology is shifting from traditional structural laser surgery to the next generation of functional corneal engineering. While established procedures like SMILE and Femto-LASIK already use high-precision femtosecond lasers to reshape the cornea, new research is moving toward modifying the eye’s properties without removing any tissue. Technologies such as LIRIC and the project FEMTOXLink focus on changing the cornea’s refractive index and internal protein structure (crosslinking) through light-induced reactions. For students and future practitioners, this represents a major paradigm shift: rather than simply cutting tissue, we are now learning to “tune” the cornea’s optical and mechanical properties at a molecular level. This approach promises more predictable, non-invasive, and highly personalized treatments for vision correction and conditions like keratoconus.

Christoph Rußmann is a physicist and professor whose research sits at the intersection of photonics, biomedical optics, and translational medicine, with a primary focus on ultrafast laser technologies for ophthalmology and oncology. Having played a key role in the clinical translation of femtosecond laser-based refractive surgery—specifically the ZEISS SMILE procedure—he is now advancing the field toward functional corneal engineering. Through projects like FEMTOXLink, his work moves beyond traditional structural reshaping to develop non-invasive methods for modifying the optical and biomechanical properties of tissue at a molecular level. By integrating physical principles with clinical innovation, his translational approach seeks to create next-generation photonic tools for both advanced medical therapies and the study of complex biological systems.

Martin Silies (ILO, Hochschule Emden/Leer) 

“Ultrafast nano-optics”

Ultrafast nano-optics explores the interaction of ultrashort light pulses with metallic nanostructures on length scales of only a few nanometers. Its central concept is the confinement of light far below the classical diffraction limit by means of plasmonic nanostructures, while preserving the exceptional temporal resolution provided by femtosecond and even attosecond laser pulses.

In this talk, I will first introduce the fundamental principles of ultrafast nano-optics, focusing on the combination of ultrafast laser excitation and sub-diffraction light localization in plasmonic nanostructures. This approach enables the generation of highly localized and strongly enhanced electromagnetic fields, which can trigger physical processes on both nanometer spatial and ultrafast time scales.

I will then present current research applications of ultrafast nano-optics, including pump–probe nano-spectroscopy and time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy. Finally, I will discuss ongoing efforts to transfer concepts such as ultrafast nanofocusing into applied research areas, including ultrafast optical computing and single-photon generation.

Walter Neu (ILO, University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer)

“Hyperloop transport systems”

Transport systems face mounting pressure from population growth, urbanization, and climate change, creating the dual demand for higher mobility and lower emissions. Conventional transport infrastructure and operations together account for a substantial share of global energy use and CO2 emissions, making the sector a critical target for decarbonization. Hyperloop is presented as a carbon-free high-speed transport concept for medium- and long-distance travel that could complement existing rail networks while extending regional accessibility. By operating in low-pressure tubes, Hyperloop reduces air resistance, enabling high speeds with low energy consumption and a small infrastructure footprint. The University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer is developing the goTube research infrastructure as a central platform for experimentation, simulation, and validation of Hyperloop technologies. The facility supports research on vehicle concepts, guidance systems, propulsion, vacuum technology, and operational safety, and is linked to European partners such as the European Hyperloop Center. By combining experimental testing, digital twins, and intelligent sensor systems, goTube aims to advance the technical and economic feasibility of a future German Hyperloop reference track and strengthen regional and European mobility research. The concept is also gaining policy relevance in Europe, where it is recognized as an emerging mobility technology and supported by efforts to develop regulatory and testing frameworks.

Walter Neu is a full professor of laser technology at the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer, where he directs the Institute for Laser and Optics and serves on the board for the Institute of Hyperloop Technology. After earning his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Mainz in 1989 as a CERN research fellow, he built over 30 years of academic and research experience in laser and quantum optics, alongside over 12 years in Hyperloop technologies. An accomplished researcher and manager, he has authored over 150 publications, holds 7 patents, serves on multiple journal editorial boards, and was awarded a prestigious research professorship by the State of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation.

Merve Wollweber (LZH, Hannover) 

“Smart farming”

Agriculture should be environmentally friendly and provide us all with healthy nutrition. To produce plant-based foods, crops must be protected against competition from weeds and damage caused by insects. However, this crop protection poses increasingly serious challenges for both conventional and organic farms. Can laser technology help here and open up new prospects for sustainable agriculture? This talk will take you from the physics lab to the farmers’ fields outdoors showing current challenges and laser-based solutions in plant protection, and highlighting prospects for the laser as an enabling technology for smart farming.

PD Dr. rer. nat. Merve Wollweber heads the Food & Farming Group at the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH). She is a physicist with a passion for biophysics and biophotonics as well as applied research and development. Coming from laser spectroscopy for biomedical and environmental research, she is now advancing optical and laser technologies for applications in the agrifood sector: from lasers in plant protection to light application for food safety and hygiene.