What inspired you to pursue a career in optics and photonics? Did science-related TV shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy, books, or other media help foster a love for STEM? One of the best ways to spread awareness of the photonics field is through video, and the rise of YouTube, TikTok, and other social media platforms has led to unprecedented levels of video consumption. We can use these tools to inspire young people to go into optics and photonics or simply inform professionals about this exciting field.

Help us spread the love for photonics! Create a short video tailored for social media that teaches about an optics concept, shows an experiment, or otherwise informs the audience about photonics. Submit your video by October 27, 2023, for the chance to win international bragging rights (and, of course, a financial award)!

Resources are included below to help you create the best video possible. Winners will be announced on November 14.

Rules

Submitted videos last a maximum of one minute;
Videos are made with an aspect ratio of 9:16;
Videos are considered in two categories involving different levels of technical details:
- General public (e.g. non-technical background);
- Early career professionals/graduate students studying optics;
Each category has a $500 award;
Videos are submitted by individuals or by teams;
Videos will be judged by a panel of 4 judges based on the criteria described below;
Submitted videos are encouraged to be reposted on LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook with the hashtag #pom2023videochallenge.

Judging Criteria

All entries will be rated independently by each of the four judges for each of the criteria described below
The highest score for each of the two categories wins an award
Each criterion will be rated on a score of 1 – 10 with 1 being the lowest score and 10 being the highest
Ties will be debated between the three judges to determine a winner