Laser Institute of America (LIA), founded in 1968, is the professional society for photonics applications, education and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications and laser safety worldwide. At LIA, we believe in the importance of sharing new ideas about lasers. In fact, laser pioneers such as Dr. Arthur Schawlow and Dr. Theodore H. Maiman were among LIA’s original founders who set the stage for our enduring mission to promote laser applications and their safe use through education, training and symposia. LIA was formed by people who represented the heart of the profession—a group of academic scientists, developers and engineers who were truly passionate about taking an emerging new laser technology and turning it into a viable industry.