Students, employees, partners and industry representatives took part in the kick-off for the Aalen School of Applied Photonics at Aalen University on 12 June 2024. In the packed lecture hall, Prof. Dr Herbert Schneckenburger began with a review of the beginnings of photonics research and education at Aalen University and Prof. Dr Andreas Heinrich then presented the content, goals and visions for the AASAP.

AASAP bundles Aalen's photonics activities: research at the "Centre for Optical Technologies" and the "Laser Application Centre", studies in the Bachelor's degree course Optical Engineering and in the Master's degree course Applied Photonics (Master), both of which can be studied regularly or with a practical component in cooperation with a company or one of the research centres, as well as the possibility to do a doctorate at the research centres. All students are represented by the new student council, which aims to promote networking and mutual support.

The entire AASAP sees itself as an optics community that lives its enthusiasm for optics, lasers and light at Aalen University and wants to develop it further both regionally and internationally. "Our mission is to promote young scientists, strengthen the region's industry, jointly advance current research topics and link learning and research processes," agree Prof. Dr Rainer Börret, Dean of the Faculty of Optics and Mechatronics, and Dean of Studies Prof. Dr Andreas Heinrich.

An overview of current research was provided by the extensive poster exhibition and the presentations from the ZOT working groups: Optical Technologies by Prof. Rainer Börret, presented by doctoral students Luis Garcia and Nico Zettler, Light-Matter Interaction by Prof. Dr Anne Harth, Opto-Electronics by Prof. Dr Peter Zipfl, Bio-Photonics by Prof. Andreas Walter, represented by Anne Harth, Andreas Heinrich and Herbert Schneckenburger, and Micro- and Nanophotonics by Prof. Dr Andreas Heinrich.

Afterwards, the participants had the opportunity to visit the laboratories and socialise with each other and the students at the barbecue.

Further information about the AASAP:

www.hs-aalen.de/aasap

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/aalen-school-of-applied-photonics