Abstract: Recent breakthroughs in photonics design, along with new nanofabrication approaches and heterogeneous integration play crucial roles in building photonics for applications including optical interconnects and quantum technologies. This design breakthrough is named photonic inverse design, and refers to efficiently searching through the space of all possible photonic device geometries, within fabrication constraints, and by employing fast electromagnetic solvers and optimization tools. Additionally, new photonic platforms have been developed which enable functionalities beyond silicon on insulator, including silicon carbide, diamond, and Titanium:sapphire on insulator, as well as ultra-strong electro-optic materials, such as strontium and barium titanate. With these new approaches to design and fabrication, novel optoelectronic devices and systems have been designed and demonstrated, including error-free and fast chip-to-chip and on-chip optical interconnects compatible with commercial foundries, chip scale Ti:sapphire lasers and amplifiers, CMOS compatible isolators and laser frequency stabilizers, and silicon carbide and diamond chip-scale quantum technologies
About the Speaker: Jelena Vuckovic (PhD Caltech 2002) is the Jensen Huang Professor of Global Leadership, Professor of Electrical Engineering and, by courtesy, of Applied Physics at Stanford. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and an External Scientific Member of the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics. Her honors include Zeiss Award, Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, Geoffrey Frew Fellowship from the Australian Academy of Sciences, the IET A. F. Harvey Engineering Research Prize, Mildred Dresselhaus Lectureship from MIT, and the Humboldt Prize. She is a Fellow of the APS, Optica, and IEEE. Vuckovic is a co-founder and a lead scientific advisor of SPINS Photonics, and a lead editor of Physical Review Applied.
]]>These talks provide an opportunity to get to know — and collaborate with — our faculty who are advancing innovations in all areas of engineering and computer science, including smart city technology, aerospace, energy, modeling and simulation, medicine, advanced materials, cyber security, and more. Each faculty presenter will narrate as they share illustrative slides.
Moderated by Subith Vasu, Ph.D. from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, viewers can submit questions in real-time and express interest in collaborating.
The Oct. 2, 2026 presenter lineup:
Presented by John Aedo, Ph.D.
]]>We can critique:
Or ask quick career questions!
See you soon! (Can't come during this time? Visit us for in-person drop-ins Mondays and Wednesdays 10am-12pm then again 1-3pm, schedule an Appointment on Handshake, or utilize vmock.com/ucf 24/7)
]]>We will cover:
Trailer: THE FOAM OF DAYS
SYPNOSIS
Spanish with English subtitles
With Gastón Pauls, Lieter Ledesma, Hugo Reyes, Frank Egusquiza
A man released from prison seeks to recover his old friends and lost love, while threatened by his victim’s brother whom he killed involuntarily. This film tells the story of four friends, inseparable since childhood, in the Casablanca district of old Havana. Their friendship will be battered by difficult trials, but the tragedy will only strengthen their bond: after all, they are like brothers. A dramatic comedy that shows us with splendor the young people and Cuba of today.
Five years in the making, this Cuban story is about camaraderie, friendship, and the human being who lives daily in a reality that conditions him, but does not determine him.
]]>UCF students attend matches for free with valid UCF student ID.
For the most up-to-date information on the women's soccer team, visit ucfknights.com.
]]>The Process:
You will start with a belay class. This class will teach you the basics of belaying and climbing safety. You will learn the belay method that we accept at the Climbing Tower and have the chance to practice one-on-one with our Climbing Tower staff. Please wear comfortable athletic clothing. Long athletic pants are recommended but not required. You will be required to climb during the class. If you have your own climbing equipment, we encourage you to bring your equipment with you.
After demonstrating competency in safety and skills in the class, you will complete a belay test. The belay test will include questions about the information you learned in the belay class and a skills test. You must be able to properly demonstrate all technical aspects of the UCF Climbing Tower belay procedure to a Climbing Tower staff. It is possible to fail the belay test. You will be required to retake the belay test before you can be certified.
After completing the belay class and passing the belay test, you will have to complete five belay check-offs before you receive your full belay certification. These check-offs are done at the Climbing Tower during normal operating hours and are intended to confirm that you can consistently perform the UCF Climbing Tower belay procedure. To complete these check-offs, let a Climbing Tower staff know that you need to complete your check-offs and they will help you.
Once you've completed all of the above, you will receive your belay certification card. Please bring that with you to the Climbing Tower!
To Register for a Belay Class:
Sign up for your belay class at the RWC Climbing Tower front desk during normal business hours. Students can take the stairs or elevators to the first floor and go left. The desk is behind the stairs in the northeast corner of the main building.
Class registration opens two weeks before the day of the class, but participants must be registered at least 48 hours in advance. Space is limited to eight people per class.
Belay classes are free for current UCF Students and RWC Members (with an active membership). If you need to cancel your registration, you must do so no later than 48 hours before the class.
Failure to show up for the belay or climbing technique class, or cancel within the allotted time will result in a forfeit fee of $30.00.
How to Cancel:
You can cancel your belay class by going to the Climbing Tower or the Outdoor Adventure Center during open hours, or by emailing outdoor@ucf.edu.
Fall 2026 Dates: