News

Photon Cup is not only an annual tradition at the University of Rochester's Institute of Optics, but also a celebration of student engagement and creativity.

This soccer event stands out from typical campus sports activities, emphasizing the bridge of communication, collaboration, and competitive spirit among our students and faculty. Let's delve into some intriguing stories from the perspective of Russell Howe, an alumnus and one of the founders of Photon Cup, to explore the origins and development of this event.

From Proposal to Tradition

Russell shared that he and Oscar Herrera frequently organized impromptu soccer games with physics students, which inspired the creation of Photon Cup. Oscar first proposed the concept during an Optical Society of America (OSA, now Optica) meeting and Russell was quick to support it. What began as a simple idea quickly transformed into a cherished tradition.

Soccer or Skiing?

During the proposal stage, soccer was one of many options considered. The original proposals included a ski trip and laser tag. However, when the group voted, soccer emerged as the clear favorite!

Not Just About the Optics!

Photon Cup was initially promoted across all engineering and science departments to encourage wide participation, including the then-newly established Biomedical Engineering Department (BME). Over time, it has evolved into a competitive yet enjoyable rivalry between The Institute and the Department of Physics. Optics professors have not only joined in but have also displayed some amazing soccer skills, often being unofficially nominated as MVPs.

Who's My Teammate?

Russell recalled that early games lacked official team uniforms, making it challenging for players to identify their teammates. Nowadays, we have different uniforms each year, sponsored by Thor Labs, and we are glad to see the continuous improvements and efforts made for the event.

Beautiful Days of Gathering

Russell reminisced that Photon Cup was always held on sunny days. We have not always had agreeable weather since he graduated, but the 2024 game was blessed with excellent weather despite the heavy rainfall in the morning.

This event is more than just a match; it is a community gathering. Thanks to Russell's reflections, we can relive some of the exciting moments of the early days of Photon Cup, and we are thrilled that it remains an eagerly awaited annual event for The Institute and the Department of Physics.

What event ideas do you think students will enjoy? Let us know by emailing Dustin at dustin.newman@rochester.edu.