Optical engineers use lasers, lenses, spectrometers and other light-manipulating systems to design equipment for manufacturing, medicine, communications and space exploration. Optical engineers at the UA are world-leaders in designing and fabricating highly specialized optics. Students work alongside faculty and professionals on projects of global significance, such as the Giant Magellan Telescope, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, and OSIRIS-REx, an unmanned probe set to launch in 2016 and land on and sample an asteroid before returning to Earth. Lenses, lasers, telescopes, cameras and communications are all part of optical engineering, which has applications ranging from medical imaging to space exploration. Optical engineers specialize in light manipulating systems. Students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Optical Sciences and Engineering take on advanced research initiatives for improved technology in solar energy, weather forecasting, data transfer and storage, medical diagnostics, electronic devices and space probes. They do practical design projects and work alongside faculty and professionals on augmented reality displays, smartphone microscopy, and the Giant Magellan Telescope, for example. The Women in Optics club and Student Optics Chapter provide undergraduates with professional development and networking opportunities outside the classroom.