Initiatives Serving Underrepresented Communities

Minorities and Women in OSA
The Minorities and Women in OSA (MWOSA) is a resource group dedicated to providing underrepresented communities, within optics and photonics, focused educational and networking opportunities, career support and grant information.

OSA Foundation Student Travel Grants
The OSA Foundation offers travel grants to students from qualifying developing nations who plan to attend an OSA-sponsored topical meeting or the Frontiers in Optics meeting.  Travel grants average $1,000 US per award, plus a free year of student membership to OSA.

OSA Fellow Travel Grants
Individual grants up to $1,500 US are available for OSA Fellows to lecture in developing nations.  The goal is to support optics programs in developing countries by increasing the interaction between OSA members and the technical communities in these regions.

Journal of the Optical Society of America (JOSA) Grant
The JOSA Publications Grant is given on a first-come, first served basis to qualified JOSA A or JOSA B authors, with preference given to authors in developing countries to help offset set their publication charges. The JOSA A and JOSA B editors select the grant recipients.

International Meeting Support
The OSA International Council allocates funds for investing in the global optics community by supporting international meetings.  Meetings held in developing regions receive the highest priority, as do requests directly assisting registrants. This support is intended to be “seed money” to assist new conferences rather than serial support of annual conferences.

Special Discounted Membership Rates for Developing Nations Residents
OSA offers significantly reduced membership dues for those residing in developing nations. To determine eligibility, please refer to the list of countries granted special economic consideration or e-mail member@osa.org.

Free Downloads from Optics InfoBase
OSA members residing in economically developing nations receive an additional benefit of 50 free downloads from Optics InfoBase per year. To determine eligibility, please refer to the list of countries granted special economic consideration or e-mail member@osa.org.

National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) and National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP) Joint  Annual Meeting Best Paper Contest
OSA co-sponsors a Best Paper Contest at the NSBP/NSHP annual meeting awarding two undergraduates and two graduate level authors cash prizes. OSA also maintains a presence at the conference by hosting an informational booth and offering free OSA student memberships to attendees.