Optics and photonics has attracted a remarkable number of Nobel prizes (86 laurates were recognized for work related to optics and photonics, according to the OSA), that is far-outsized given the relatively small number of researchers active in the field. In parallel, the optics-based industry is growing rapidly (projected to reach 1 trillion USD by 2025) in diverse areas, ranging from laser-material processing to medical & health care, augmented & virtual reality, and sensors (autonomous vehicles, “smart” systems).
Research carried out by our world-renowned faculty members is being published in top scientific journals, including Nature, Science, Nature Photonics, Optica; making the department a global player and the leader in Turkey in terms of publication quality and quantity in optics and photonics. We offer a range of courses, including Optics, Photonics, Optical Information Processing, Advanced Optoelectronics, Ultrafast Lasers and Nonlinear Optics, as well as Industrial Projects. Many Bilkent graduates have founded startup companies or are working in leading positions in the lasers and optics divisions of major companies and research institutes in Turkey and abroad.