Dr. Ralph Chou is associate professor of optometry and vision science at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He studied astronomy before becoming an optometrist, and is president of the Toronto Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. His research interests include industrial and environmental eye protection, optics of and visual performance with spectacle lenses, and visual and ophthalmic standards. He is recognized as an expert on solar eclipse eye safety and the technology of solar filters. He serves as Chair of the Canadian Standards Association Technical Committee on Industrial Eye and Face Protection, and as Canadian representative to several ISO standards committees.