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OSSC Fellow (2010)
OSSC President (2007-2008)
OSSC Outreach Chair (2009-2012, 2022-2025)
OSSC Secretary (2023-2025)

-Donn Silberman-

 

   

Donn Silberman began his work in optics in 1976 when as a high school senior he volunteered as an astronomy student technician.  There he learned how to operate a small planetarium, maintain the class telescopes and built his own 8" F/8 Newtonian.  Donn attended the University of Arizona to study Astronomy, worked at the Flandreau Planetarium and ended up receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics (Honors in Physics).  During his years at the UofA, Donn also worked at the Optical Sciences Center and taught undergraduate physics labs.  Donn served as the Society of Physics Students President from 1981 - 1983 and as an SPS Councilor from 1983 - 1984.  In October 1983, Donn published "Optical Levitation" in the Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics.  He started this project 2 years earlier after attending a talk by Arthur Ashkin; who one the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics for his invention of Optical Tweezers.   

 

    Since then, Donn has logged over 40 years of management and technical experience in various optics based businesses, with a number of patents and publications to his credit.  He has an extensive background in product management, including conceptualizing, research and development, quality assurance, product manufacturing, marketing and sales.  Some of Donn’s notable positions include Senior R&D Optical Engineer for Johnson & Johnson’s IOLAB Corporation in Claremont, California; Operations Manager, Micro-Optics, for Corning Incorporated’s Advanced Photonics Technologies group in Garden Grove, California; and Engineering Systems Manager in the RAM Optical Instruments division of Newport Corporation in Irvine, California.  Donn was also responsible for marketing Newport’s Opto-mechanic product line and introduced color product photos into the famous Newport catalog.  Donn has worked as an Applications Engineer for MetroLaser, Inc., and PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. in Irvine, CA, and then served as the Technical Services Manager for Starrett Metrology Systems.  In 1994, Donn received a Master of Science degree in Technology Management from Pepperdine University.   
 

    Donn has held many volunteer positions with the OSSC, including Programs and Scholarship Chairs in the mid 1990’s and Newsletter Editor and Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President in the mid 2000’s.  He is the Founding Director of The Optics Institute of Southern California which focuses on optics education outreach and worked closely with the OSSC, OSA, SPIE and MESA on the Hands-On Optics and other educational outreach programs for many years.  Donn also served for several years as the Assistant Director of the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies  at South Orange County Community College District's Advanced Technology and Education Park.  Donn served for a number of years as a volunteer member of the Exhibits Committee at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, California and on the Leadership Council for the UC Irvine Beall Center for Art & Technology

 

    In 2009, Donn founded the UC Irvine Optical Engineering and Instrument Design Certificate programs, as the Advisory Committee Chair and he continues teach and help those programs grow.  In November 2012, he received the Dean's Outstanding Service Award for his efforts with these programs.

 In December 2012, Donn was the 2012-2013 Univ. of Arizona Honor's College Advocate for Education Award Winner and gave the Keynote Address at their Pre-commencement ceremony.

Donn created a website called OpticsAge which is a focal point for Donn Silberman's past Optics Education Adventures.

 

     Donn was designated as a Senior Member of SPIE in 2009 and a Senior Member of OSA in 2010 for his specific achievements in optics education, outreach and engineering. 


Some years ago, Donn embarked on a new optics educational outreach adventure called OptoBotics aimed at enticing high school school students to learn about optics & robotics.  An on-line article about this program is here from SPIE and a downloadable 2014 SPIE slide presentation on OptoBotics is here.  Also, a 2012 professional (now on YouTube) lecture Optobotics - Precision Motion for the OpticsAge, A look around the Martian Surface hosted by UC Irvine Extension is available. 

In 2017 Donn founded eLas Americas to continue to support his educational customers with laser educational kits that were formerly distributed through PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.  In 2020 eLas Americas was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In January 2019, Donn became a Fellow of SPIE.  Beginning in January 2023, Donn will be a volunteer on the SPIE Education & Outreach Committee

In November 2022, Donn became a Member of QED-C, The Quantum Economic Development Consortium.  There he volunteers on the Workforce - Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

     Donn also trained for and participated in local Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons for over 10 years (then had to stop due to the COVID-19 situation).  He still trains regularly.  (2009-2019 USA Triathlon results here in pdf file format and here are his USA Triathlon.)  Donn recently joined the Mission Viejo Nadadores Diving Master's program, as he was a diver in high school and wanted to pick it up again.

 

    Donn has been married to Ana Maria for over 38 years and they have a son, Michael "Six" who is received his B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Columbia Univ. and his  M.S. from  the UC Irvine ACE program.  Six received his Ph.D from the UC Irvine Department of Informatics, Social Code Group, worked for IG Metall in Frankfurt Germany for five years, worked for Organise in London for 18 months, and is now a Postdoctoral researcher in the iManage Project at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at the University of Oxford

In Feb 2021, Donn retired from Starrett (and his industry career) to spend more time with his family, study Quantum Mechanics and do more education & outreach in optics, photonics & quantum.

 

                                                          

 


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