Two ABB Optical Scientists Join SPIE's Elite, Highlighting Québec's Optical Innovation
Two optical scientists from ABB's Measurement and Analytics Quebec factory in Canada have been recognized by The international society for optics and photonics (SPIE) – a testament to the exceptional expertise driving ABB's leadership in optical technology.
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1970-01-01
When the global optics and photonics community speaks, it carries weight. SPIE, founded in 1955, is the world's largest professional society dedicated to light-based science and technology, connecting more than 25,000 engineers, scientists, and researchers across the globe. Every year, SPIE elects a small number of its members for its most prestigious distinctions – and this year, two optical scientists from ABB's Québec site made that list.
Nathalie Blanchard has been elected Senior Member of SPIE, and Anne-Sophie Poulin-Girard has been elected a Fellow of SPIE, the Society's highest level of professional recognition. These honors reflect not only the individual excellence of two outstanding professionals, but also the strength of the work being done every day at ABB's Québec factory, where the team develops and produces cutting-edge optical technologies for space, defense, and beyond.
Optics and photonics – the science and technology of light – are at the heart of some of the most transformative innovations of our time. From lasers and optical fibers to the cameras in our phones and the instruments that explore distant planets, optics and photonics shape the way we live, work, and understand the universe.
"Congratulations to Nathalie and Anne-Sophie on these well-deserved honors,” said Jean-René Roy, Global Business Line Manager, Business Line Analytical at ABB's Measurement & Analytics division. “Whilst we already highly value their contribution, recognition by a global professional society is an additional powerful form of external validation. It means that your and ABB's contributions to optics and photonics are visible, respected, and admired by the wider scientific and engineering community.”
Nathalie Blanchard – Senior Member of SPIE
Nathalie Blanchard's election as Senior Member recognizes her experience, active engagement, and significant contributions to the field of optics and photonics, and more specifically to optical design. With over 25 years of expertise in advanced optical systems, Nathalie has built an exceptional track record in space and defense instrumentation. At ABB, she currently serves as the optical design lead for the European Space Agency's Harmony thermal instrument and for Space Situational Awareness projects. Her hands-on experience and original thinking consistently elevate the work of those around her – and she stands as an inspiring role model for women pursuing careers in science and engineering.
Anne-Sophie Poulin-Girard – Fellow of SPIE
Anne-Sophie Poulin-Girard's election as Fellow recognizes her achievements in optical instrumentation enabling discoveries and new markets and the promotion of optics and photonics to young people. A leading expert in optical design and systems engineering, Anne-Sophie has played pivotal roles in highly demanding projects in the field. She led the assembly, integration, and commissioning of the Near-Infrared Planet Searcher (NIRPS) spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, and serves as lead system scientist and technical authority for several space and defense projects at ABB. Her impact extends beyond the lab. She currently co-chairs the Optical Engineering + Applications Symposium, one of the world's largest technical conferences in optical engineering. She is a member of Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and was appointed President of NSERC's EDI Committee in 2025, championing equity, diversity, and inclusion at the highest level of Canadian science policy. Perhaps most remarkably, her passion for making science accessible to all led her to create outreach initiatives that have directly inspired more than 6,500 teenagers over the past 15 years.
Inspiring the Next Generation
The stories of Nathalie Blanchard and Anne-Sophie Poulin-Girard carry a message that goes beyond professional achievement. Both are women who have built outstanding careers in a highly technical field – and both are actively working to open doors for the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Their recognition by SPIE is a reminder that excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) knows no boundaries – and that the work done at ABB's Québec site is not only technically remarkable, but truly world-class.
Congratulations, Nathalie and Anne-Sophie. 🎉