The International Astronomical Union Celebrates its 100th Anniversary with the Dark Skies for All Project
In 2019, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is celebrating its 100th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, IAU100 is organising a year-long celebration to increase awareness of a century of astronomical discoveries as well as to support and improve the use of astronomy as a tool for education, development and diplomacy under the central theme “Under One Sky”. The centennial celebrations will stimulate worldwide interest in astronomy and science and will reach out to the global astronomical community, national science organisations, societies, policy-makers, students, families and the general public. The IAU100 activities will take place at global and regional levels, and especially at the national and local levels.
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.
Events in Liechtenstein related to the International Day of Light
News from Naturwissenschaftliches Forum (Liechtenstein Section of EPS)
Quick Guide to Organise IDL 2018 Events
We are glad to announce that we reached 100 activities in over 40 countries worldwide registered in our IDL2018 Event Programme. Many individuals and organizations are helping us to shape up an exciting programme of activities for people around the world to celebrate the central role that light plays in the lives of the citizens of the world in areas of science, culture and art, education, sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications and energy by creating their own events.
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.
UNESCO proclaims May 16th as the International Day of Light
PARIS, 14 November 2017: The 39th Session of the UNESCO General Conference has today proclaimed the date of May 16th as the International Day of Light. The proclamation of this annual International Day will enable global appreciation of the central role that light and light-based technologies play in the lives of the citizens of the world in areas of science, technology, culture, education, and sustainable development.
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.
Launch of the committee “Lumière et Société”
In 2015, the International Year of Light (IYL2015) encountered a big success in France. Hundreds of events organised through the country touched thousands of people and saw the emergence of a community driven by projects involving light.
Solar Power to the People
The Council of the European Physical Society, held in Mulhouse on 1-2 April 2016, welcomed a round-table on the theme “Physics for Development”. Several associations and organisations were invited to present their projects: Sunshine4Palestine and Liter of Light, as well as the Basic Science Programme at UNESCO, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics [ICTP] and the International Astronomical Union [IAU].
Lucie Baron, business developer at the French branch of Liter of Light, was one of the invited speakers.
Inauguration of PETAL at the French Megajoule Laser Facility
On 29 May 2015, PETAL, (PETawatt Aquitaine Laser), delivered a power of 1.2 Petawatt (one million billion Watts). Supplying almost 1000 Joules of optical energy during less than 1 picosecond (1 psec = 10-12 sec.), thus making PETAL the first facility to overcome the Petawatt power barrier at the highest energy level within one beamline. It becomes the most powerful kilojoule-class laser in the world to date. Part of the Megajoule Laser Facility [LMJ] near Bordeaux, France, this instrument positions the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission [CEA] in a leading position worldwide for building and exploiting powerful lasers.
EPN IYL2015 special issue
In the EPN Editorial Advisory Board meeting, held in Paris on 27 September 2014, it was decided to have a special issue devoted to the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies [IYL 2015].
All the features in the EPN 46/5-6, with more pages than the other four issues, will be devoted to subjects related to the IYL2015. Prof. Luc Bergé, Chair of the Quantum Electronics and Optics Division of the EPS, will be the Guest Editor of this special issue.
