50 years of the laser celebrated

50 years of the laser celebrated

The 50th anniversary of the laser will be celebrated at an event in Aberdeen next week.

Professor John Watson from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Engineering will explore the history of the groundbreaking invention which now underpins much of our day to day lives.

From medicine and laser cutting to underwater holography and 3D TV, Professor Watson will examine the various applications of the laser and the pioneers whose work led to its development 5 decades ago.

These scientists include James Clerk Maxwell - who began his professorial career at the University of Aberdeen in 1856 — and whose revolutionary theory on the properties of light helped pave the way for the innovation of the laser.

Professor Watson’s talk — Happy Birthday Laser: 50 years of the “light fantastic” - takes place on Wednesday September 22 in the University’s Fraser Noble Building beginning at 7.30pm.

The event is part of Techfest In September, Aberdeen’s annual festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Professor Watson said: “The first functioning laser was demonstrated on May 16, 1960 by American physicist Theodore Maiman.

“His achievement was preceded by the work of world famous scientists including James Clerk Maxwell and Albert Einstein whose research decades before into the behaviour and nature of light, laid the foundations of the ideas which culminated in the first laser.

“In my talk I will chart the history of the laser’s development, explain how it works and explore the significant ways in which it has impacted on how we live our lives over the last 50 years.

“I will discuss some of the groundbreaking research and industrial applications that have been made possible through the use of lasers including ultrafast communications, precision cutting, medical research and holography. 

“There will also be the opportunity to actually see some lasers in action — I will be demonstrating several kinds of lasers and applications and how to handle them safely.”

Happy Birthday Laser: 50 years of the “light fantastic” takes place on Wednesday September 22 in the University of Aberdeen’s Fraser Noble Building beginning at 7.30pm.

Tickets to the event cost £5 for adults and £3.50 for children and concessions and can be purchased from Aberdeen Box Office by visiting www.boxofficeaberdeen.com/  or calling 01224 641122.

For more information on TechFest In September 2010, visit http://www.techfestsetpoint.org.uk/tisor follow TechFest In September on Facebook and Twitter.

Search News

Browse by Month

2024

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2024
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2024
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2024

2022

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2022
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2022
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2022
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2022

2021

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2021
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2021
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2021
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2021
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2021
  12. Dec

2020

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2020
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2020
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2020
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2020
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2020
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2020
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2019

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2019
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2019
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2019
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2019

2018

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2018
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2018
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2018
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2018
  5. May
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2018
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2018
  12. Dec

2017

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2017
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2017
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2017
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2017
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2017
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2017
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2017
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2017

2016

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2016
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2016
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2016

2015

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2015
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2015
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2014

  1. Jan
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2014
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2014
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2014
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2013

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2013
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2013

2012

  1. Jan
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2012
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2012
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2012
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2011

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2011
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2011
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2011

2009

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2009
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2009
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2007

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2007
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2007
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2007
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2007
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2007
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2007
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2007
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2007
  11. Nov
  12. Dec