Quebec鈥檚 photonics sector works to advance innovations from fibre optic cables to laser surgery and contributes $3 billion annually to Canada鈥檚 GDP, yet it gets little attention. Odile Liboiron-Ladouceur, Professor in the Faculty of Engineering鈥檚 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, says she hopes her bilingual photonics glossary will change that, and will attract more young Quebecers into the field.
Photonics is a specialized branch of physics and engineering involving the manipulation of light. It鈥檚 essential to the operation of the internet, and to a host of technologies and devices that have become a part of everyday life, including barcode scanners, remote control devices and laser printers.
鈥淲e have a long history of optics in Canada, but we鈥檙e not sufficiently engaging the talents of the younger generation,鈥� said Liboiron-Ladouceur. 鈥淲e have to remind people and the government how much innovation is happening in this province.鈥�
That鈥檚 why, when she was approached by publisher DataFranca to lead the creation of a French/English book featuring photonics terms, Liboiron-Ladouceur accepted. Les 101 mots de la photonique was launched Nov. 19.
Book is free and will be distributed to high schools and CEGEPs
鈥淭his will allow me to reach out to French-speakers, attract them to science, and make them feel confident that they can jump in and learn,鈥� she said.
Liboiron-Ladouceur said she would also like to see the book result in increased visibility and funding for photonics research.
The book is free and will be distributed to high schools and CEGEPs throughout the province, as well as available . Readers are encouraged to suggest terms to be added in future editions.
A team effort
Liboiron-Ladouceur may have been the ideal person suited to lead this project.
She is a former Canada Research Chair in photonic interconnects, was just named one of the photonics industry鈥檚 100 most innovative people, grew up in Quebec speaking French and is fluent in English.
Yet the book was a group effort. She collaborated with Sophie LaRochelle, Professor and Director of ) at Universit茅 Laval; , an organization promoting Quebec鈥檚 photonics sector, and her graduate students.
Two 不良研究所 PhD candidates, Leonid Pascar and Mohammad Reza Safaee, played lead roles in the project, compiling many of the words and their English definitions. Both speak multiple languages and are currently studying French.
鈥淚t is a great feeling to be part of a project that has the potential of contributing to society,鈥� said Pascar. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also an opportunity for me to connect with the Quebec community.鈥�
鈥淭his is just the beginning,鈥� said Liboiron-Ladouceur. 鈥淚 really hope to see this initiative grow and propagate.鈥�
This article was originally published in the .