Advancing Photonics and Laser Technician Education in Michigan

光子学是一门由激光和光纤发明而实现的光科学，它正在迅速发展，对美国和全球经济的重要性越来越大。光子学应用在我们的社会中无处不在，并且与智能手机，计算机，医疗设备，国防技术等工程系统相关。光子学技术在国家安全、医疗保健、制造业、信息技术和能源等领域发挥着关键作用。需要高技能的劳动力来支持行业和新技术的发展。有证据表明，在密歇根、中西部地区和整个美国，工业界所需的准备充分的光子学技术人员的数量与光子学专业毕业生的数量之间仍然存在差距。尽管这些工作需求量大，工资也高，但这种差距仍然存在。通过将四年前在贝克学院推出的两年光子学项目扩展到奥本山和杰克逊两个新校区，该ATE项目将增加密歇根州光子学技术人员的数量。该项目课程将通过增加新的课程模块来加强，这些课程模块将重点关注光子学在新兴领域的应用，如自动驾驶、集成光子学和制造业中的高功率激光器。该项目将汇集来自光电公司、相关NSF ATE中心以及从K-12到大学水平的教育机构的不同组织和利益相关者。这样的合作伙伴关系将有助于：(1)加强光子学项目和课程，(2)扩大推广工作，(3)通过每年在贝克学院举行的光子学研讨会分享该领域的新发展，以及(4)为项目毕业生提供实习和就业机会。作为加强新生管道的一种方式，光子学作为一个领域将被整合到密歇根州提供的职业和技术教育计划中，并将建立从高中到两年制学院再到四年制大学学位的途径，以便为学生展示多种职业机会。此外，教师将有机会通过专业发展研讨会来提高他们的光子学知识。项目成果将在各种环境中传播，并将为其他学院提供支持，以便在这一不断发展的先进技术领域增加课程和项目。

Photonics, the science of light enabled by the invention of lasers and optical fibers, is advancing rapidly and growing in importance for the US and global economy. Photonics applications are pervasive in our society and are pertinent to engineered systems like smart phones, computers, medical devices, defense technologies, and many others. Photonics technology plays a key role in national security, health care, manufacturing, information technology, and energy. A highly skilled workforce is needed to support the growth of the industry and new technologies. Evidence suggests that a gap continues to exist between the number of well-prepared photonics technicians needed by industry and the number of graduates of photonics programs in Michigan, the Midwest region, and across the United States. This gap persists despite these jobs being in high demand and offering high wages. This ATE project will increase the number of photonics technicians in Michigan by expanding the two-year photonics program introduced four years ago at Baker College to two new campuses - Auburn Hills and Jackson. The program curriculum will be enhanced by the addition of new course modules that will focus on photonics applications in emerging areas such as autonomous driving, integrated photonics, and high power lasers in manufacturing. The project will bring together diverse organizations and stakeholders from photonics companies, relevant NSF ATE Centers, and educational institutions from K-12 to the university level. Such partnerships will help: (1) to enhance the photonics program and curriculum, (2) to broaden outreach efforts, (3) to share new developments in the field through an annual photonics symposium at Baker College, and (4) to provide internships and employment opportunities to program graduates. As a way to strengthen the pipeline of incoming students, photonics as a field will be integrated in Career and Technical Education programs offered in the state of Michigan, and pathways from high school to two-year colleges to four-year university degrees will be established in order to showcase multiple career opportunities for students. Further, faculty will be provided opportunities to advance their knowledge of photonics through professional development workshops. Project results will be disseminated in various settings and support will be available for other colleges to add courses and programs in this growing advanced technology field.