Candela Foundation publishes “English-Polish dictionary of optical terms”!

We are pleased to announce that the Candela Foundation has published the first edition of the “English-Polish Dictionary of Optical Terms” – a tool designed for the scientific, industrial and administrative communities involved in optics, photonics and related sciences.

The dictionary was created in response to the growing need to unify and organise the terminology used in Poland in these dynamically developing fields. It will help improve communication between experts and institutions, as well as popularise the Polish language in the fields of science and technology.

An online version of the dictionary is available here:

The implementation of the project would not have been possible without the involvement of a large number of male and female volunteers who gave their time to create, verify and harmonize the terminology database. In particular, we thank:

The Optical Vocabulary Committee, working under the chairmanship of Prof. Czeslaw Radzewicz (University of Warsaw), which included:

  • Krzysztof Abramski (Wroclaw University of Technology)

  • Katarzyna Chałasińska-Macukow (University of Warsaw)

  • Wojciech Gawlik (Jagiellonian University)

  • Włodzimierz Jastrzębski (Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Wiesław Leoński (University of Zielona Góra)

  • Agnieszka Popiołek-Masajada (Wroclaw University of Technology)

  • Józef Szudy (Nicolaus Copernicus University)

The project team, coordinated by Piotr Wegrzyn (Candela Foundation, IPC PAS, UW), consisted of:

  • Kacper Cybiński (Candela Foundation, UW)

  • Mihai Suster (Candela Foundation, IChF PAN, UW)

  • Dorota Tomaszewska-Rolla (Wroclaw University of Technology, Candela Foundation)

Authors of the initial password database include:

Agnieszka Jamrozik, Bartosz Krajnik, Katarzyna Krupa, Jadwiga Milkiewicz, Mateusz Pielach, Sebastian Stano, Piotr Targowski and Dorota Tomaszewska-Rolla.

Special thanks go to the Heirs of Ireneusz Wilk, author of two volumes of the 1980 “English-Polish Dictionary of Optical, Optoelectronic and Precision Mechanics Terminology.” Their permission to use the contents of these works made it possible to significantly expand the terminological base of our dictionary.

We would also like to thank:

  • To the authorities of the Wroclaw University of Technology for their help and making it possible to contact the Heirs of Ireneusz Wilk,
  • Aleksandra Tulibacka (OH! Studio) – for the cover design and graphic concept of the publication,
  • Magdalena Miernik-Grzesiowska (Lookreative Law For Creatives) – for professional legal consultation,
  • Gabriela Slaby (Candela Foundation) – for language editing and proofreading the dictionary.

The presentation of the dictionary took place during the 8th Polish Optical Conference, one of the main goals of which is to promote the Polish language in the field of optics and photonics.

We realize that the first edition may not contain all the necessary terms and that some definitions may need refinement. Therefore, we encourage all users to actively contribute to future versions of the dictionary by submitting new entries and suggestions for changes on the dictionary page.

We would like to thank all the individuals and institutions that have supported this project. We hope that the dictionary will be a useful tool in the daily work of scientists, engineers, teachers, students and all those involved in optics and photonics in Poland.

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