The ASEAN Plus Photonics Symposium 2026

I really enjoyed attending The ASEAN Plus Photonics Symposium 2026 earlier in April. I was invited to give a talk on nonlinear topological photonics. My talk slides are available here.

The conference programme covered a broad range of topics, including metasurfaces, exciton-polaritons in microcavities, structured light, topological photonic crystals, and the integration of two-dimensional materials into photonic devices. The full programme is available here.

Beyond the individual talks, a few high-level themes stood out to me:

A recurring topic was the push to move metasurfaces from proofs of concept toward practical devices. This shift raises its own set of challenges: how can fabrication be made faster, cheaper, and scalable? Similar questions arise for device characterisation, which must evolve from carefully controlled, fragile experiments to something closer to a production line approach. Efficient electrical control of devices is increasingly important, as is long-term stability: can one return to a device six months later and expect the same performance?

Another strong theme was the importance of active exchange between theory and experiment. For this to be effective, theorists need to understand which effects are experimentally accessible and which are not, while experimentalists must know when to trust theoretical predictions, and when those predictions need to be revisited in light of conflicting data.

One particularly striking example came from Prof. Feng Li's talk on optical skyrmions. He candidly talked about how early experimental observations in the 2010s were not well understood and lacked an adequate theoretical explanation. This kind of openness about the inevitable challenges of research elevates a good talk into an inspiring one.

Related to this was a recognition of the value of intermediate results. Such results are often essential for understanding the capabilities and limitations of new fabrication schemes, or for training new students. While modest in scope, these studies can sometimes lead to unexpected and rewarding discoveries.

The conference venue itself was memorable: located by the beach and decorated with artworks depicting various Physics Nobel Laureates, it provided a pleasant and stimulating setting for discussion.

There was also noticeable attention on the rise of Vietnam as a manufacturing hub. As costs increase in China, manufacturing activity is shifting, and Vietnam is seeing growing investment in semiconductor fabrication. This trend is driving demand for scientists and engineers with expertise in nanofabrication and related areas, accompanied by increased funding for research into integrated photonics.

I do like smaller conferences such as this. With no parallel sessions, you can better exposed to topics outside one's own direct area of research, broadening knowledge and getting to know colleagues you wouldn't normally interact with.

Looking forward to the next edition of the conference in 2027!