CU Boulder alum Tom Baur named SPIE Fellow

Tom Baur (Image Credit: Meadowlark Optics)

CU Boulder alumnus Tom Baur was recently named a Fellow of SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics. Tom is among a number of leading scientists named SPIE Fellows in 2024. He previously received SPIE’s G.G. Stokes Award in 2018. 

SPIE Fellows are named annually for their significant scientific and technical contributions to optics, photonics, and imaging. They are nominated by colleagues for their technical achievement and service to the general optics community.  

Tom completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan before earning a master’s degree in astro-geophysics from CU Boulder in 1969. He worked at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and later founded Meadowlark Optics, which specializes in optical components for polarization control. 

In 2020, Tom and his wife Jeanne Baur created the Baur-SPIE Endowed Chair in Optics and Photonics with contributions from SPIE and Chancellor DiStefano. The Endowed Chair is held by Physics Professor and JILA Fellow Cindy Regal. 

Tom remains closely connected with CU Boulder, and the Department of Physics in particular. He serves on the Physics Advancement Advisory Committee, and his company Meadowlark Optics participates in the annual Physics and Quantum Career Fair.