Special Events

IEEE Member Appreciation Lounge

Date: Monday, 13 November 2023
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Location: Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, Meyer Room (Convention Level)

IEEE and IEEE Photonics Society members are welcome to visit this lounge all day Monday. Come to the IEEE member lounge to relax, grab a snack, and connect with peers. Throughout the day, there will be meet-ups and activities, as well as opportunities to network with Society leaders and to learn more about volunteering.

In the lounge, complimentary headshots will also be offered by a professional photographer, which can be used to enhance attendees’ careers and social profiles. The headshot photos are first-come, first-served.

IEEE Photonics Society Awards Banquet

Date: Monday, 13 November 2023
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm (Reception), 7:00pm-9:00pm (Seated Dinner)
Location: Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, Pavilion (Directly outside the Palm Event Center)

The IEEE Photonics Society’s Welcome Banquet will honor the Society’s successes and the notable winners of the IEEE Photonics Society Specialty Awards. Please join us in recognizing awardees in specialty areas who have made significant contributions with proven benefits to science, technology, or the community at large. The Awards Banquet is open to all registered attendees.

Standards / Industry Connections Luncheon

Date: Tuesday, 14 November 2023
Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm
Location: Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, Meyer Room (Convention Level)

The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) is well known for its international standards development spanning a wide range of technology areas, and through its open and consensus based processes. The Photonics Society, with its Standards Committee, seeks to enable the advancement of the photonics industry by supporting the development of standards that are within its scope.

The core standards making work within IEEE SA is complemented by a range of programs and offerings that span the larger lifecycle of standards. In particular, the SA Industry Connections program provides a platform for individuals and organizations to come together to address emerging technology issues in the pre-standards phase, to build a community of interest on such topics, and generating standards related outputs such as thought leadership papers/reports, standards roadmaps and/or workshops/webinars associated with these topics. These efforts often lead to new standards projects and Industry Connections activities sometimes “graduate” to become committees within IEEE technical societies. The Industry Connections program will be discussed with successful examples to help the IEEE Photonics Society consider this pathway towards future standards and standards related initiatives. 

Open to all attendees who RSVP during registration.

IEEE Young Professionals Luncheon

Date: Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm
Location: Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, Meyer Room (Convention Level)

Topic: “Mental Health Literacy & Navigating Impostor Syndrome”

Sponsored by:
IEEE Young Professionals, this luncheon will address mental health literacy, stress identifiers, and how to put mechanisms in place to avoid eventual crisis or burnout.

Another condition common for Young Professionals is Imposter Syndrome. Drawing on our personal experiences of doubting one’s abilities, sabotaging self-success, or feeling like an imposter, this program will equip you with skills and techniques to reinforce the fact that you do belong and are fit to accomplish your professional and personal goals.

This luncheon will be led by the Society’s AVP of Young Professionals, Akhil Kallepalli, Ph.D. (University of Glasgow), and Aces Consulting Limited, an organization that tackles mental challenges that inhibit individual and team productivity.

Open to all attendees who RSVP during registration. Attendees up to 15 years post their first degree and participants of the Mentor Match program are strongly encouraged to participate.