This fall, members of the global laser and optics community gathered for two major international conferences: the 23rd International Symposium on Ultrafast Intense Laser Science (ISUILS 2026) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science (FiO LS 2026) in Rochester, New York.

Held September 27 through October 1, ISUILS 2026 featured nine scientific sessions covering a broad range of topics in ultrafast intense laser science, along with poster presentations and industry sponsor sessions. The symposium opened with a tribute to Honorary Chair Dr. Philippe Martin of CEA, France, and brought together researchers from around the world to share recent advances in the field.

Among the participants was IOS Director Louis DiMauro, who contributed to the scientific program alongside fellow researchers and international colleagues.

At the same time, FiO LS 2026 welcomed researchers, students, and industry leaders to Rochester for a week of presentations, technical discussions, and networking across the optics and photonics community.

A key highlight of both meetings was the participation of early career researchers supported by the Extreme Light in Intensity, Time, and Space (X-lites) Network. X-lites promotes international collaboration among researchers and facilities working at the frontiers of extreme light science while supporting the development of the next generation of researchers.

Through X-lites support, eight early career researchers attended ISUILS 2026 and seven early career researchers attended FiO LS 2026, providing opportunities to engage with the international scientific community and learn about current developments in the field.

Prior to FiO LS, X-lites hosted an Early Career Development Workshop, bringing together participating researchers before the conference. X-lites also partnered with the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester to host a Lunch & Learn event and facility tour on the final day of the conference. Participants learned more about the X-lites network and toured one of the world's leading laser research facilities.

By supporting participation in international conferences and community-building activities, X-lites continues to advance its mission of strengthening collaboration, supporting early career researchers, and connecting scientists across the global extreme light research community.