Shaping the future with light | Photonics at ZEISS
Light is far more than a physical phenomenon – it is a key technology driving innovation in research, medicine, industry, and our digital future with artificial intelligence. For Dr. Ulrike Böhm, physicist and R&D Scientist at ZEISS Corporate Research & Technology in Oberkochen, Germany, the fascination with light began early and never faded.
At ZEISS, photonics – the science and application of light – forms the foundation for countless technologies that shape our lives. From medical diagnostics that reveal diseases at their earliest stages, to industrial precision and quality control, to enabling the next generation of AI and quantum computing, ZEISS uses its deep understanding of light to turn fundamental physics into real‑world solutions. With expertise in optics dating back to 1846, ZEISS builds on nearly two centuries of innovation in lenses, optical systems, and photonic instruments.
Discover how Dr. Ulrike Böhm turned her childhood curiosity about light into a scientific career – and how she now works at the intersection of optics, photonics, and future technologies at ZEISS to shape the world of tomorrow: https://www.zeiss.com/photonics
00:00 Introduction Dr. Ulrike Böhm and her fascination with light
00:51 Photonics explained and its role in modern technology
01:10 Photonics as enabler in AI, robotics, healthcare, communication and mobility
02:18 How photonics shapes our understanding of the world
02:45 ZEISS legacy and what light will make possible in the future
💡 What is photonics? 💡
Photonics is the science and technology of generating, guiding, manipulating, and detecting light and other forms of radiant energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, from ultraviolet and visible to infrared. It treats light both as photons (particles) and as waves, and uses this dual nature to create high‑resolution images and reveal structures that are invisible to the naked eye, transmit and process information at extremely high speeds, measure distances, shapes, and materials with nanometer precision, and precisely modify materials, for example during micro‑ and nanofabrication.
Because of this, photonics is considered a fundamental enabling technology for the 21st century – comparable in importance to electronics and computing in the 20th. It is essential for everything from the Internet and smartphones to advanced medical diagnostics, autonomous systems, and emerging fields such as quantum technologies and next‑generation AI.
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💙 More about ZEISS 💙
ZEISS is a global leader in optics and optoelectronics, driving innovation in medical technology, microscopy, and semiconductor manufacturing. As a foundation-owned company, ZEISS combines scientific excellence with responsibility to shape the future of technology.
On this channel, discover insights into cutting-edge research, advanced imaging solutions, and the people behind ZEISS innovation across healthcare, science, and industry.
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