B-PHOT Student Chapter, affiliated with the Brussels Photonics Team, is a joint student chapter of the SPIE and Optica (formerly OSA) Vrije Universiteit Brussel Student Chapters. The Vrije Universiteit Brussels SPIE Student Chapter was founded in 2006-2007 as the first student chapter in Western Europe. The Vrije Universiteit Brussels Optica Student Chapter was founded in 2020-2021. By forming the B-PHOT Student Chapter, we continue to promote optics and photonics with a joint force. The mission of the Student Chapter is to bring together bachelor, master, and PhD students in photonics and offer them a platform to interact with each other, academics in photonics (post-docs, professors…), industrial photonics, and the international photonics societies.

As a member of the Student Chapter, you enjoy several benefits with broad access to resources, and networking opportunities at our academic, industrial or social events, that can make a difference in your career.

Our goal is to get together with students, sharing inspiring experiences within and outside our community in photonics.

Next to online courses, discounts for conferences, access to grants, and online journals we also organize and support several scientific and social events.

B-PHOT Student Chapter VUB Events

• SPIE welcome pizza lunch
• Day of Science
• Cultural events such as Sinterklaas visit, Christmas market tour, etc.
• Light Night
• Science Show (interactive photonics show visited by over 1500 students from secondary schools)
• Teacher training about the Photonics Explorer kit
• B-PHOT staff BBQ
• Teambuilding events
• Company Visits
• Industry Days

B-PHOT Student Chapter with EYEST vzw (Excite Youth for Engineering, Science and Technology) is organising the "Photonics Explorer" contest dedicated to EYEST's 10th anniversary. EYEST and B-PHOT Brussels Photonics offer the educational Photonics Explorer kit. Now all these activities are announced as B-PHOTONICS activities. Please check out more details about the kit here (https://bit.ly/3FAyYbE & https://bit.ly/3AkFHT2).

Do you love doing outreach activities? Do you like to share your passion for photonics with the general public? Then this is for you!

Get your chance to win:

• 1 Photonics Explorer kit
• Free training for the chapter members
• Didactic content in 17 languages

How to participate?

Send us your short motivation letter + Post your chapter’s outreach photos and tag #eyest10BPHOTchapter and social media accounts of the B-PHOT Student Chapter and B-PHOTONICS.

Who can participate?

Optica (formerly OSA) and SPIE student chapters. (Note: Only one member from the chapter can fill in the form. Multiple applications from the same chapter will not be considered.)

Interested? Want to WIN? Then participate and become our outreach ambassador !!!

Deadline to send the application: 1st November 2021

Announcement of 10 Winners during the online event: 16th November 2021

On a yearly basis, we present a new dynamic team that takes the lead in the coordination of all our activities. The B-PHOT Brussels Student Chapter Officers for the academic year 2020-2021:

Vrije Universiteit Brussel Chapter's former presidents

• Mathilde Patin (2019-2020)
• Koen Vanmol (2018-2019)
• Qing Liu (2017-2018)
• Sidney Goossens (2016-2017)
• Jens de Pelsmaeker (2015-2016)
• Lien Smeesters (2014-2015)
• Diane De Coster (2013-2014)
• Stefaan Heyvaert (2012-2013)
• Stijn Roelandt (2011-2012)
• Tom Guldemont (2010-2011)
• Els Moens (2009-2010)
• Sara Van Overmeire (2008-2009)
• Nathalie Vermeulen (2007-2008)
• Jurgen Van Erps (2006-2007)