The theme of this year’s TMOS Annual Report, From Foundations to Frontiers, captures precisely what makes this Centre of Excellence so inspiring. TMOS continues to lay solid scientific foundations through rigorous research, while also pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of light manipulation and meta-optical devices.

One of the most exciting frontiers in nanophotonics is the development of active optical metasurfaces—ultrathin materials that can dynamically manipulate light. These platforms enable radically new ways for humans to interact with technology. Semiconductors provide maturity and integration with electronics, while soft, flexible materials offer new possibilities with their compliance and large, stimulus responsive behaviours. Imagine a flat, micron thick surface that can electrically switch between multiple holographic images or adjust the focus of a lens in real time. This is no longer science fiction—it’s an active area of research where TMOS plays a crucial role. These advances were recently discussed in the review article I co-authored, titled “Optoelectronic metadevices,” Science 386, eadm7442(2024). This review emphasises how dynamically tunable metasurfaces could transform displays, sensors, and optical computing. TMOS’s contributions to this area are helping to bridge the gap between conceptual designs and real-world applications.

In 2024, I had the pleasure of strengthening my collaboration with TMOS. A notable highlight was hosting TMOS postdoctoral fellow Dr. Patrick Rufangura (UTS) at Stanford for a month-long research exchange. His visit allowed hands-on work on the design, fabrication, and IR characterization of semiconductor metagratings for mid-IR thermal emission. We are currently exploring the possibility of a longer exchange visit by TMOS PhD student Ziwei Yang, which could accelerate progress on novel tunable optical systems.

I continue to be impressed by TMOS’s distinctive structure—its capacity to foster cross-institutional collaborations, its strategic focus on flagship research areas, and its dedication to training the next generation of scientific leaders. These foundations are crucial for creating long-term impact. Looking ahead, I would be eager to help promote TMOS’s work more widely across the United States. A future TMOS-led workshop at Stanford could connect leading 1 3 2 4 5 6 Jelena Vučković, and Jonathan Fan, while also encouraging collaboration with industry partners in Silicon Valley—including Meta and Samsung—who are actively exploring applications of metasurface technologies.

TMOS is well-positioned to lead in shaping the future of optical science and its many real-world applications. From foundational materials and device physics to the frontiers of adaptive, intelligent optical systems, this Centre exemplifies what a research powerhouse should be.

It is a pleasure to serve on the International Scientific Advisory Committee and to contribute to TMOS’s exciting journey.

Professor Mark Brongersma,
Stanford University Member,
TMOS International Scientific Advisory Committee