The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) chief scientist, Prof Andrew Forbes, has become the first South African and third African to be inducted into the elite Fellowship Class of the Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics.

SPIE outreach coordinator, Brent Johnson, says: “It is our pleasure to announce the promotion of Prof Andrew Forbes to SPIE Fellow. It was by the recognition of his significant service to this society and to the greater science community, as well as the recognition of noteworthy technical achievements, that the SPIE Fellows Committee and the Board of Directors concluded to promote him.”

Forbes was presented publicly with his new fellow plaque at the SPIE Photonics West conference in February in San Francisco, USA.

Forbes comments: “It is always nice to get recognition for the work you have done and continue to do. Over and above this, my Fellowship appointment is a reflection of the fact that we [at the CSIR] do scientific work which resonates with what SPIE is about – applied science.”

Forbes is one of 69 new Fellows recently inducted into SPIE. They have been drawn from industry and universities around the world.

“All these people are highly esteemed,” he says and adds, “I feel honoured and humbled to be included in the ranks of the SPIE Fellows.”

As an active member of SPIE, Forbes has served as a programme committee member for conferences on laser beam shaping; laser resonators and beam control conference; and optical technologies for arming; safing; fusing; and firing. He is also the founder and Student Chapter Advisor for the CSIR SPIE Student Chapter. In addition to being a regular volunteer at SPIE events and conference attendee, he has been an author or co-author of over 50 SPIE conference and/or SPIE journal papers.

The other two African academics who were both promoted to SPIE Fellows (in 2009) are Professors Paul Buahbassuah of Ghana and Zorah Ben-Lakhdar of Tunisia.

It is also noteworthy that since its inception in 1955, SPIE has only inducted over 1000 of its members to fellowship status, making this a truly exclusive club and a rare honour for South Africa and Africa.

For more information, please contact:
Tendani Tsedu
CSIR media Relations Manager
Tel: 012 841 3417
Cell: 082 945 1980
e-mail: mtsedu@csir.co.za

About SPIE:
SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. The society serves nearly 225 000 constituents from approximately 150 countries, offering conferences; continuing education; books; journals; a digital library in support of interdisciplinary information exchange; professional growth; and patent precedent. SPIE provided R29.7 million (or US$3.3 million) in support of education and outreach programmes in 2012.
SPIE recognises significant scientific and technical contributions in the multidisciplinary fields of optics, photonics, and imaging. SPIE Fellows are honoured for their technical achievements and for their service to the general optics community and to SPIE in particular. More than 1 000 SPIE members have become Fellows since the Society’s inception in 1955.

About CSIR:
The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) is one of the leading R&D, technology and innovation institutions in Africa, with a track record spanning over 65 years. Structured to manage the entire research and innovation value chain, the CSIR strives for excellence in all its endeavours in order to improve the quality of life of South Africa’s people and to increase the global competitiveness of South African industry. See www.csir.co.za or contact tel 012-841-2000. The CSIR - our future through science.