The Ghana Photonics and Optics Laboratory (GPOL) has held an intensive photonics workshop offering students and researchers rare access to high-end optical equipment and specialised demonstrations.

The session, facilitated by Terence Kessler, Senior Research Engineer and Diversity Manager at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), University of Rochester, formed part of efforts to deepen practical training and expand technical capacity within Ghana’s photonics community.

The workshop drew students, researchers, and young innovators who engaged directly with advanced optical systems under Mr. Kessler’s guidance. He introduced participants to precision optical instruments and led them through detailed demonstrations on interference, explaining the behaviour of light waves and how they combine to form fringe patterns. Using interferometry, he showed how slight variations in path length, coherence, or alignment influence these patterns.

Mr. Kessler also presented on holography, illustrating how interference fringes form the basis of holographic encoding. Participants observed the process of generating, recording, and reconstructing holographic images, gaining a clearer understanding of the principles driving modern photonic technologies.

The hands-on demonstrations equipped participants with valuable technical insights that will support their academic and research work. This workshop enriched photonics education at KNUST and strengthened the knowledge base of young Ghanaian scientists.