This award recognises innovations and technical advances in the field of Optics. In particular, the award seeks to recognise substantial achievement in translational optical research and/or development towards industrial applications and commercialisation by an individual or small team.

The primary focus of the committee in assessing applications will be on the evidence of achievement other than the traditional academic measures of papers and citations, though these may be included for background context. Examples of suitable evidence might include patents, technical reports, prototype development, novel commercial products, or innovative solutions to challenging technical problems in research translation or commercialisation. The latter might include refinement of a complex fabrication or laboratory analysis process. The committee reserves the right to recommend no award where none of the applications presents sufficient evidence of this type.

Applications from non-academic technical staff and industrial employees are strongly encouraged. The work for which the award is made must have been carried out principally in Australia or New Zealand.

The winner will receive a prize consisting of A$300 cash, one year's free membership of AOS, and an invitation to attend the AOS conference and make an oral presentation of their work.

Selection criteria for the award

• evidence of translational impact or impact potential as expressed by achievements other than traditional scientific publications

The nomination should include

1. A one page narrative for the technical innovation and vision statement for the next 5 years – how will the technology be advanced to further impact stages
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Case for the award in innovations and technical advances in the field of Optics describing the research translation and its impact beyond academia (max 3 pages).

The prize was known as the Technical Optics Award from 1995 to 2016. In 2017 it was renamed the John Love Award.

     Previous winners of the Prize:

• 2020: Prof. Warwick Bowen - University of Queensland
• 2019: Dr Sergio Leon-Saval - University of Sydney
• 2018: Prof. Robert Scholten - University of Melbourne and MOGLabs
• 2016: Dr Nicolas Riesen - Modular Photonics, Macquarie University & University of Adelaide
• 2010: Dr Katie Green - CSIRO
• 2004: Dr Yabai He - Macquarie University
• 2000: Alex Boiko
• 1997: Chris Freund - CSIRO Telecommunications and Industrial Physics.
• 1995: Ron Bulla - CSIRO Applied Physics