Bill O’Neill, Professor of Laser Engineering and Director of the Centre for Industrial Photonics at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), has been honoured with two of the most prestigious awards in laser engineering and photonics. This recognition highlights his significant contributions to the field.

The Laser Institute (LIA) announced Bill as the 2025 recipient of the Arthur L. Schawlow Award, which recognises outstanding contributions to basic and applied research in laser science and engineering. His work has transformed the understanding of ultrafast laser–matter interactions, micro- and nano-fabrication, additive manufacturing and high-power laser processing. These advances have shaped both academic research and industrial practice. The award was formally presented at the 44th International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO®) in Orlando in October.

Adding to this international recognition, Bill was also named the 2025 AILU Fellowship Award winner by the Association of Industrial Laser Users (AILU) at the Industrial Laser Applications Symposium (ILAS). This Fellowship is the Association’s highest honour, granted for an outstanding lifetime contribution to the industrial use of lasers in the UK. Alongside his scientific achievements, the award acknowledges his leadership in fostering innovation, collaboration and practical impact across the laser community.

“I’m deeply honoured to receive the LIA Arthur L. Schawlow Award and to be elected an AILU Fellow," says Bill. "These recognitions reflect the creativity and perseverance of my teams and our partners in advancing laser science into real-world manufacturing impact. They celebrate not just past achievements, but our shared commitment to translating laser research into technologies that make manufacturing cleaner, faster, and more reliable.”

Together, these awards highlight Bill’s unique role in advancing laser technology from lab to factory floor and underline his global influence on the future of advanced manufacturing.

Find out more about the awards:

Arthur L. Schawlow Award: https://icaleo.org/news/2025-08/2025-award-winners-announced 

AILU Fellowship Award: https://www.ailu.org.uk/awards/