PRISM Summer School 2025
Erlangen, June 2025 – This year’s Summer School offered a dynamic platform for cultural and academic exchange between doctoral candidates from the Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies (SAOT) and their fellow researchers from Princeton, Rowan, and Rutgers universities in the USA. The event facilitated a rich exchange of ideas in laser technology and photonics applications. In total, 13 participants took part: four PhD students from Princeton, one each from Rowan and Rutgers, and seven doctoral candidates from SAOT.
The kickoff event was held on Sunday, June 22nd, under clear Bavarian skies, where participants enjoyed their first networking session with drinks and local cuisine, setting a collaborative tone for the week.
This year’s PRISM-Summer School, hosted by SAOT, centered on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with laser and photonics applications. Participants were tasked with inventing new concepts or products that combined optical technologies with AI. The range of ideas was broad and innovative, including laser-based analysis of cat behavior for potential human-cat communication, enhancing cognitive abilities through near-infrared laser stimulation and using AI to detect early onset glaucoma.
Additionally, participants presented their current research projects, which sparked inspiring and productive discussions. These exchanges provided valuable insights and feedback, benefitting everyone’s ongoing research and future career paths.
A highlight of the program was the excursion to Bamberg, a city with a remarkably preserved historic center recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Participants also attended the Laser World of Photonics in Munich, the leading international trade fair for the photonics industry.