Passion for Light workshop
The Passion for Light workshop was held on the 16 September in the Villa Monastero, in Varenna, Italy. The event – which was jointly organised by the European Physical Society and the Italian Physical Society – saw the official launch of an initiative by the EPS Quantum Electronics and Optics Division to declare 2015 the International Year of Light, under the auspices of the United Nations.
Following the opening addresses, a comprehensive series of light-themed lectures followed, covering a wide variety of topics from ‘Passion for precision’, by Theodor Hänsch; ‘Trapping the light fantastic’, by Diederik Wiersma; and ‘Light and art: an indivisible relationship’, by Alessandro Farini.
In a novel twist, for the first time for any EPS conference, the proceedings were made available worldwide through a live webcast, courtesy of the INFN CNAF service.
The day’s activities were concluded with a cocktail party in the grounds of the Villa, overlooking Lake Como, which preceded the launch ceremony of the Varenna Fisica Festival. This two week long series of scientific events, being held in the local area, was kicked off by a piece of performance art on the role of light in society.
The next in the process for declaring the International Year of Light will be the 27th IUPAP General Assembly, which is being held in London on 31 October-4 November this year.
For more information on the workshop, please visit the Passion for Light page on the Italian Physical Society website.
