Numerical simulation has been a major factor in the rapid advance of optics and photonics. But with this progress comes greater demand for simulation software platforms to keep up the pace. In this session, we will present an overview of current challenges in simulating optics and photonics and how COMSOL Multiphysics® is meeting them. This overview includes the critical issue of scale, ranging from subwavelength to optically large, as well as the need for multiscale modeling. We will also discuss how the COMSOL® software accounts for optical nonlinearities and material discontinuities — as well as multiphysics effects like structural-thermal-optical performance (STOP), laser heating and cooling, and electro- and magneto-optics — enabling you to create simulations that match the real world. We will also introduce the Uncertainty Quantification Module, an add-on to COMSOL Multiphysics® that expands simulation inputs and outputs to include ranges, thus accounting for variations in operating conditions. Finally, we will cover how COMSOL Multiphysics® supports advanced technologies like plasmonics and metamaterials as well as integrated optics and silicon photonics. This is an exciting moment in optics and photonics simulation; we hope you can join us to learn more!