OPTICS IN COLOMBIA: A Brief Historical Review

Abstract

We present an historical review of the genesis and four decades of evolution of research on optics and its applications in Colombia, based on documents, letters, abstract books, photographs, and images from the archives of its pioneers and forgers. We include documents from the national optics meetings prior to the official creation of the Colombian Optics Network, its insertion into the international community and its subsequent consolidation as the Colombian Optical Network Society, currently a partner society of OPTICA. We present schematically the origins of various research groups and the evolution of their classification by the Colombian Ministry of STI. We sum up the main academic events organized by members of the Network, which have led to its strengthening and consolidation as a scientific network of national extent with international recognition. Additionally, we show the progress of optics in Colombia in the Ibero-American context.