International Day of Light sees worldwide success

On 16 May 2018 the first International Day of Light celebrated the vital role of light and related technologies in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development. More than 600 events were held in 87 countries reaching hundreds of thousands of people, and a spectacular afternoon and evening celebration was also held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.

Light, Colour and Vision

Celebrating is a term that we frequently use, without often grasping its value. Latins used celebratus, past participle of celebrare, in the meaning of “to perform publicly with appropriate rites”. This definition contains two important aspects: on the one hand honouring something; on the other hand doing it in a public way, trying to share it with others.

International Day of Light inauguration at UNESCO on 16 May 2018

UNESCO will inaugurate the first International Day of Light at their headquarters in Paris, France, on 16 May 2018.  In addition to the many events taking place worldwide on this day, the flagship inauguration in Paris will bring together an international group of participants to both raise awareness of the many ways that light impacts on modern society, and to consider how advances in light-based science and technology can aid in achieving goals in education and sustainable development.  The inauguration will run from 2–10pm during the afternoon and evening of 16 May, and attendees and guests will include science and industry leaders, national delegates and sponsors, diplomats and decision-makers from across the globe, science enthusiasts, and students.

Planning begins for the first International Day of Light in 2018

Paris, France — Following the highly successful International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015, the Executive Board of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has endorsed an annual International Day of Light. The purpose of an International Day of Light will be to provide an annual focal point for the appreciation of the role that light plays in the lives of the citizens of the world in areas of science, culture, education, sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications and energy. The broad theme of light will allow many different sectors of society to participate in activities around the world to raise awareness of science and technology, art and culture, and their importance in achieving the goals of UNESCO — education, equality and peace.

The LIGHT2015 Projects bring the wonders of Photonics to 27 European Countries during IYL 2015

The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 [IYL 2015] has been a tremendous success in bringing together academic and industry organisations around the world to join forces to raise awareness of the many ways in which the physics and applications of light impacts our lives in areas such as energy, education, climate-change and health. The success of IYL 2015 crowns six years of hard work by the European Physical Society [EPS] since the first discussions of the idea in 2009.

The Dutch Journal of Physics released a special issue on light

With the Dutch Journal of Physics the NNV aim to reach out to the community of physicists with an interest in developments in physics research, industry and education in the Netherlands, but whose knowledge of Dutch is not sufficient for comfortably reading the printed journal. In 2016, the NNV decided to start publishing an English version of the Society’s Journal four times a year under the name Dutch Journal of Physics (DJoP).

International Year of Light News

IYL 2015 in France: a great success!

100 years of general relativity

Editorial – Light to Enlighten

In our role as researchers and teachers we work to increase the knowledge, use it and transmit it to new generations of scientists.

At the same time, our global citizenship is often confronted with technical, cultural, ethical and social issues needing scientific knowledge not available to the average citizen. Direct engagement with the public helps us to understand their interest for science and their doubts and concerns.

Light and Innovation Ceremony at the Palazzo Edison in Milan

On the occasion of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 a special session entitled ‘Light and Innovation’ took place on 16 October 2015 at the wonderful Palazzo Edison in Milan, the headquarters of the Edison corporation. It was organized by Edison SpA and the Foundation Alessandro Volta, in collaboration with the European Physical Society and the Italian Physical Society. Edison SpA is Europe’s oldest energy company, and today is one of the industry leaders in Italy and Europe with business focusing on electric power and hydrocarbon exploration and production. The Alessandro Volta Foundation is located at Lake Como and has a school of Advanced Studies where scientific events are organized to promote excellence in training and research.

International Year of Light news

“Highlights of Physics” event in Germany

LIGHT2015 Project Updates

Cosmic Light: primordial & eternal

IYL 2015 public lecture series at the Academy of Athens

On the occasion of UNESCO’s inauguration of 2015 as the International Year of Light, the Research Center for Astronomy and Applied Mathematics [RCAAM] of the Academy of Athens hosted a series of public lectures aiming to raise public awareness of the defining role of light and cosmic light sources to the human perception of the universe and the advancement of science and space exploration.

Special issue of EPN on IYL 2015

Special issue of EPN on IYL 2015.

Foreword on the special issue on the science of light
Guiding light
Light for bio-imaging
Light for brevity
Controlling light at the nanoscale
Extreme light
Quantum light
Letter: about light, cosmic messages from the past
Physics in daily life: dipping bird
Crossing borders: physics and politics: a happy marriage?