He has been a leader in the classroom, lab and boardroom for more than thirty years. His technical innovation and entrepreneurship changed the field of optical metrology and developed tools that enabled many disciplines of precision manufacturing. Now Optica has named James C. Wyant, emeritus professor and founding dean at the University of Arizona, Wyant College of Optical Sciences, USA, an Optica honorary member.

Wyant is recognized for his pioneering contributions to advancing the science and technology of quantitative interferometric metrology, his leadership as an educator and entrepreneur, and his visionary service to the global optics and photonics community.

“Jim has made extraordinary contributions to our society and field through his scientific and technical work, mentorship, leadership and philanthropy,” said Michal Lipson, Optica’s 2023 president.

His pioneering work in the field of adaptive optics played a vital role in the development of the first adaptive optical system, and his holographic techniques, which provided a means of testing aspheric surfaces, have been a standard procedure for decades. He is also well-known for his role in creating the optical testing technique used on the James Webb Space Telescope and most, if not all, of the giant telescopes around the world.