The Venture Forum and Quinsigamond Community College to Host February Program on Photonics

The Venture Forum, a Worcester organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs launch and grow successful high-growth businesses, will hold its February program along with Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) on Tuesday, February 9th, from 5:30-8:30 pm at QCC.

Program attendees, who can range from inventors and entrepreneurs, to manufacturers and makers, will learn how particles of light are powering electronic and medical devices, enabling access to the Internet, and accelerating fabrication.

One of the program’s featured speakers is Tara King, sales manager of United Lens, a family-owned company for the past century that maintains current prominence in the photonics industry. Tara will present an overview of the company’s many innovations. The second speaker is Jacob Longacre, a QCC photonics professor. Jacob will provide a historical perspective on photonics (which began in nearby Southbridge), and will delve into the current growth in multiple photonics technologies. Jacob spent many years in the public and private sector as an Electrical and Design Engineer.

The second half of February’s program will celebrate QCC’s new Fab Lab. Attendees will have a chance to tour the lab, which has given QCC the distinction of being the only community college in the state to open and operate a lab that offers access to the community. Dean of Business, Engineering and Technology Kathy Rentsch explained, “Fab Labs provide access and tools to dream, experiment, fail, and do it again- to take a good idea and do something great with it. The idea behind Fab Labs is that users don’t have to have an advanced degree to touch the tools and technology. It’s a community-based resource, and the tools and software are free to use.”

The program is sure to provide an understanding of how optics, lasers, and photonics and transforming our world. For non-members of The Venture Forum, the event will be priced at $15 in advance and $25 at the door. For The Venture Forum Members and students, the event is free. Students are required to register in advance, and College/University ID will be requested at check-in. There will be a $5 registration fee for student walk-ins.

About The Venture Forum: The Venture Forum is a non-profit organization located in Worcester, MA that offers a foundation for learning and connecting with resources essential to launching and growing successful technology businesses.