[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E21]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR. EUGENE G. ARTHURS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SUZAN K. DelBENE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 10, 2018

  Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Eugene G. 
Arthurs, a visionary leader, dedicated scholar, and passionate advocate 
for science and technology, on the occasion of his retirement from 
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. Dr. Arthurs 
led SPIE from its headquarters in Bellingham, WA. During his tenure, 
SPIE grew to 19,000 members and 264,000 constituents representing 
optics and photonics experts and industry leaders in 166 countries, 
making Bellingham the home to a top international scientific society.
   Dr. Arthurs' distinguished career as a physicist, educator, CEO, and 
global photonics community leader provided him with the opportunity to 
share his passion for the science and beauty of light with students, 
researchers, and politicians across the globe. He was one of the 
driving forces behind the launch of the National Photonics Initiative 
(NPI), an alliance of top scientific societies uniting industry and 
academia to raise awareness of photonics. He has been a tireless 
spokesperson for the need of the science and technology community to 
engage with policymakers.
   Before he joined SPIE in 1999, he spent 25 years working in 
photonics in the United Kingdom and the United States. He was the first 
member of his family to get a science degree, receiving his Bachelor of 
Science with honors in physics and his doctorate in applied physics 
from Queens University Belfast. He taught optoelectronics at Queens and 
conducted research at the Imperial College of London before immigrating 
to the United States in 1980.
   I would like to thank Dr. Arthurs for his commitment and dedication 
to the field. He has been an asset to the science policy community, and 
his guidance in the creation of the NPI provided a solid foundation in 
photonics advocacy work. I wish him the best and hope he continues to 
find inspiration in his future endeavors.

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