Cody Nelson (B.S. 2018) has been awarded the 2024 Pollicove Scholarship by the Optica Foundation, an arm of Optica, formerly the Optical Society of America. Optica is a professional society for optics and photonics, publishing journals, organizing conferences and exhibitions, and carrying out charitable activities.
Cody is currently a student at the University of Arizona, pursuing a master's degree in Opto-Mechanical Engineering. He also works at the Richard F. Caris Mirror Laboratory as an optical fabrication technician. The Mirror Lab is well known for making telescope mirrors, including the mirror for our own WIYN telescope, as well as mirrors for the Magellan, MMT, LBT, and Giant Magellan Telescopes, and many others. Most recently, the Mirror Lab fabricated the complex mirror for the Vera Rubin Telescope, coming into operation soon in Chile.
Cody is part of the team that fabricates these large-scale optics for astronomy, focusing on maintaining nanometer precision for the optics and ensuring safety. Cody’s research interests lie in refining manufacturing processes and contributing to the advancement of astronomical optics through meticulous documentation and a commitment to continuous learning.
Congratulations, Cody! We’re proud of what you are accomplishing.
The College of Arts