Welcome

Dr. Theodore Maiman created, demonstrated, and patented the world's first laser on May 16, 1960. Fifty years later we celebrated the inventor and his invention with an international symposium on contemporary laser research and developments.

The symposium was co-hosted in Vancouver by the Dr. Theodore Maiman Memorial Foundation and Simon Fraser University, where Dr. Maiman was Adjunct Professor at the School of Engineering Science.

Held on May 15th and 16th, 2010, at SFU's downtown campus, the event featured leading researchers, inventors, and business leaders who have benefited from Dr. Maiman's invention.

An inventor who changed the world

firefoxThe breakthrough creation of the ruby laser changed the world as we know it and initiated the scientific explosion in what has come to be known as the electro-optics industry. From its auspicious beginning on May 16, 1960, all other lasers flowed with enormous diversity in laser applications, including: fiber-optic communications, CD/DVD players and computer ROMs, laser printers, industrial tools and revolutionary medical procedures.
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