As the world becomes increasingly industrialized, issues relating to pollution, energy, health, food safety, and national defense multiply and exhibit new facets that must be addressed sooner rather than later. Resources needed to address these developments increase both in expense and variety, so much so that even research based on anticipated scenarios appears necessary. While the political dimensions of these developments require concerted action from international organizations, technoscientific researchers must also become involved in devising cost-effective and innovative solutions to complex problems, both current and anticipated. Because of its wide reach, the science of optics and photonics is expected to play a major role in this activity. 

In the third edition of this special conference entitled Photonic Innovations and Solutions for Complex Environments and Systems (PISCES), 15 young technoscientific innovators and visionaries, from industry, government, and academia, shall be selected to deliver problem-based 30-minute talks focusing on innovative solutions for complex problems, with special attention to optics and photonics. 

Proposals comprising both 100-word and 250-word summaries are invited from junior researchers who have acquired a doctoral degree in any field lying within the scope of SPIE and whose research careers have advanced no more than 10 years beyond their doctoral degree. The 15 proposals deemed most innovative and exciting will be selected for presentation. 

Along with research on optics and photonics, a successful proposal will identify an innovative and multi-disciplinary approach to one or more complex problems in the short (< 5 years) or medium (5-20 years) term. Strategies to expedite innovation through integration of academic, industrial, and government research will be discussed. The roles of governmental agencies, industrial consortiums, research foundations, and private investment in the rapid and timely manufacture and commercialization of products will be commented upon, as appropriate.