# Light People: Prof. Kei May Lau, newly elected US NAE member in Hong Kong, talks about future of photonics and women in science

## TL;DR

Prof. Kei May Lau discusses the future of photonics, her research contributions, and her efforts to promote women in science.

## Contribution

Prof. Lau's election to the US NAE highlights her pioneering work in photonics and her role in advancing women in science.

## Key findings

- Photonics is evolving with innovations in LEDs, lasers, and micro-LEDs.
- Hetero-epitaxy remains a key challenge in semiconductor research.
- Prof. Lau emphasizes mentorship and gender equality in scientific fields.

## Abstract

Photonics technology remains a driving force in today’s scientific
landscape, marked by continuous innovation and cross-disciplinary relevance. In an
enlighting conversation with Light: Science & Applications, Prof. Kei May Lau, a
pioneer in photonics research, shares her deep insights on the evolution of
technologies of LEDs, lasers, challenges of hetero-epitaxy, and the future of
micro-LEDs and quantum dot lasers. Recently honored as a member of the US National
Academy of Engineering (NAE) for her significant contributions to photonics and
electronics using III-V semiconductors on silicon, Prof. Lau stands out as the sole
Hong Kong scholar inducted into the NAE this year, joining 114 new and 21
international members. In this exclusive Light People interview, Prof. Lau shares
her journey as a pioneering woman in engineering, her commitment to mentorship and
academia, and her perspective on advancing female representation in science. The
summary provided is distilled from Prof. Lau’s thoughtful responses during the
interview. For a deeper exploration of Prof. Lau’s experiences and advice, the full
interview is available in the Supplementary material.