Excellence in Optics

ICTP Institute Associate Imrana Ashraf of Quaid-I-Azam University, Pakistan, has been awarded the 2026 Esther Hoffman Beller Medal by Optica, a society dedicated to promoting research and worldwide knowledge dissemination in optics and photonics.

The prize citation reads “for her dedication to optics education at her university and at events targeting students from economically developing countries, as well as for the organization of numerous educational and outreach events in rural areas of Pakistan.”

The Esther Hoffman Beller Medal was established by Optica in 1993, and it is presented for outstanding contributions to education in optical science and engineering. 

The award adds to a long list of recognitions attributed to Imrana Ashraf for her dedication to research, education and outreach. She was the first Pakistani woman to obtain a PhD in quantum optics and in 2004 she received the ICO/ICTP Gallieno Denaro Award. She is a senior member of Optica and the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), and the managing director of the International Commission for Optics (ICO) in Pakistan. In 2017 she was awarded the ICTP Spirit of Abdus Salam award for her dedication to mentoring students and young researchers and her tireless action to promote the education of young women.

Over the years, Ashraf has maintained a close association with ICTP as a tutor, as a fellow of the ICTP Training and Research in Italian Laboratories (TRIL) programme, an associate and as a lecturer for the Winter College on Optics. In 2025, she was nominated ICTP Institute Associate, in recognition of her service and commitment to ICTP’s mission. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the ICTP Global Science Portal.

Read the full press release by Optica.