資料來源：https://spie.org/membership/student-hub/student-awards#_=_

SPIE Presidential Award for Outstanding Student Chapter

Congratulations to the 2025 recipient and runners-up

We are pleased to announce that the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) SPIE Student Chapter, of Tainan, Taiwan, has been selected to receive the 2025 Presidential Award for Outstanding Student Chapter. SPIE President Peter de Groot chose the NCKU Chapter as this year’s recipient for its impressive reach and scope of its activities.

With 44 members and four officers, the NCKU SPIE Student Chapter organized 10 major outreach events for youth, ranging from optoelectronics science education for elementary school children to hands-on scientific experiments specifically designed for high school girls, throughout the year. Cumulatively, these activities attracted more than ten thousand participants.

 In addition, the group hosted events to promote the personal and professional growth of its members, including company site visits, intercollegiate exchanges, and guest lectures by academic professionals. “We will continue to work hard to provide our members with valuable, transferable skills and help them grow into better individuals,” the chapter shared in its annual report.

We’d also like to recognize the two other frontrunners: first runner-up Charles University SPIE Student Chapter in Prague, Czech Republic, and second runner-up University of St. Andrews SPIE Student Chapter in St. Andrews, Scotland.

De Groot noted that the Charles University SPIE Student Chapter accomplished an impressive amount for a group of just 12 members. Forming connections was a strong theme of the year for the chapter, as it strengthened networks and fostered collaborations both within Czechia and the larger global community. A stand-out success was the chapter’s organizing of OPTO 2024, a conference that brought together students from around the world — as far as India — to network, learn from notable scientists, present their research, and discuss their latest scientific achievements. The event had been held in Poland for the previous 18 years.

De Groot praised the chapter at the University of St. Andrews for having a notable impact as a relatively new chapter. The launch of the Scottish Conference in Optical Technology (SCOT) 2024 event, which attracted 150 attendees and secured industry sponsorships worth over £29,500, was a major accomplishment.  De Groot also noticed the group’s efforts to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive chapter. “I liked the diversity of student-focused events, often emphasizing mixing socializing with science,” he said.

Kudos to all three chapters for their impactful work in advancing optics and photonics. “They’re all winners in my book!” De Groot remarked.