A major objective of this meeting is to bring together the leaders of the more traditional communications and networking community with the electro-optics and device community. These two communities have little or no collaborative tradition but do have a rapidly growing need for each others expertise. This need was explicitly identified in a recent official report of the National Science Foundation. That report, entitled "NSF Panel Report on the Interface Between Optical Devices and Systems," which convened on May 22, 1989, explored ways and means to enhance the interaction between these two groups. Briefly, the panel concluded that the split between device fabrication and theoretical system researchers was too extreme and that team or group efforts and projects by members of both communities must be fostered and encouraged. The panel report concludes that the NSF has a crucial role to play in enhancement of the system/device interface. In summary, the Optical Multiple Access Networks meeting will provide an excellent opportunity for optical systems and device to become more familiar with each others discipline, to meet key individuals, to help identify critical emerging technologies, and to provide the collective personal, and professional foundation needed to encourage future group and team efforts.
