The dedication of the Center for Adaptive Optics at
the University of California, Santa Cruz, has been postponed until
June to accommodate a change in the schedule of featured guest Rita
Colwell, director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Colwell
is unable to attend on April 26 as originally planned because she was
summoned by the Bush administration to take part in a U.S. delegation
to China.
The dedication of the Center for Adaptive Optics is now expected to
take place on June 20 or 21. Colwell will take part in the dedication
and give a speech on “Research Trends and Opportunities at NSF.” More
details about her visit and the dedication ceremony will be
forthcoming.
The multi-institutional Center for Adaptive Optics (CfAO),
headquartered at UCSC, was established in 1999 as an NSF Science and
Technology Center focused on the advancement and application of
adaptive optics technology. The center has 28 partner institutions.
Adaptive optics (AO) is used in astronomy and vision science to
correct the blurring of images caused when light travels through an
unstable medium. For example, turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere
limits how clearly astronomers can see stars and other objects with
even the largest ground-based telescopes. Similarly, internal
imperfections and fluids in the eye not only affect vision but also
limit the ability of doctors to get a clear view of the retina to
diagnose and correct retinal defects and disease.
A new CfAO headquarters building was recently completed on the UCSC
campus. The 4,000-square-foot building on Science Hill provides
offices and meeting space for faculty, visiting scientists, students,
and administrators.
