From May 8–10, the 21st international student conference Developments in Optics and Communications 2025 (DOC Riga 2025) took place at the House of Science, University of Latvia Academic Centre. The event welcomed student participants from around the world, offering them the chance to present their research, gain new insights from leading international scientists and industry experts, and compete for awards.
Participants presented their research results either as oral or poster presentations in fields such as laser physics and spectroscopy, optical materials and phenomena, vision science, and biophotonics.
Awards for best oral presentations went to Didzis Salnājs (Pyrophosphates as a potential matrix for ultraviolet emitting persistent luminescence phosphors) and Edvards Strods (Optical and photochromic properties of YHO/MoO₃ thin films).
The best poster awards were given to Ignas Dailidenas (Ultrafast Second Harmonic Generation in N-Polar GaN/Al₂O₃/Ga-Polar GaN/AlGaN Waveguide Structure) and Madara Kļave (Impact of film thickness and AC parameters on ZnS:Mn based electroluminescent panels).
Students also could gain new knowledge and see presentations by more experienced researchers thanks to several guest speakers – Yusuf Mulla, Nadege Ollier, Robert Iskander, Valts Krūmiņš.
The conference was organized by students from the SPIE Student Chapter in cooperation with the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, and the University of Latvia. The event was also supported by SWEB (Smart Windows for Zero Energy Buildings) and Magebit.
