Every Picture tells a Story II

January 22, 2016January 21, 2016light2015 1 Comment

GalileoMobile visiting a school of the Colombian part of Constellation. The project Constellation is a specially endorsed project by the International Astronomical during Cosmic Light IYL 2015 and involves twenty schools in six countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru), directly reaching at least 100 teachers and 6,000 pupils. Credit: GalileoMobile.

“Realm of Photon 2015”, a IYL 2015 Cosmic Light EDU workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal, organized by National Academy of Geo & Space Science (NAGSS). Credit: NAGSS.

The Ufficio Filatelico and Numismatico of San Marino dedicates the divisional coin set 2015 with a 5€ silver uncirculated coin to the theme of the International Year of Light. Credit: Matthew Dent.

Detail from the illumination at Durdle Door on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset – part of the Night of Heritage Light. Members of the Society of Light and Lighting created bespoke illuminations for several of the most iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites around the UK. Credit: The Society of Light and Lighting.

Physics in the King’s Garden, Stockholm, Sweden, exhibition and hands on experiments on 5 September 2015.

IYL 2015 commemorative stamps from Antigua and Barbuda.

IYL 2015 Opening Ceremony in The Netherlands, 15 January 2015, Science Center NEMO Amsterdam. Human being walking on stilts, wearing a lightshow suit. Credit: Digidaan.

Every Picture tells a Story I

January 21, 2016February 11, 2016light2015 Leave a comment

These days we are working on collecting information about IYL 2015 activities around the world. The IYL National Nodes have been very helpful sending us images of selected activities. We’ll be sharing all these pictures on the IYL website very soon but, during the following days, we would like to share on the blog a first glimpse of these pictures from IYL 2015 activities around the world.

International Year of Light 2015 Cosmic Light mascot created by the Japanese Amateur Astronomers Association.

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IYL 2015 Opening Ceremony Anniversary

January 19, 2016January 20, 2016light2015 Leave a comment

Today we commemorate the anniversary of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 (IYL 2015) Opening Ceremony that was held on 19-20 January 2015 at UNESCO-HQ in Paris, France.

Over a thousand participants attended the ceremony to learn about the many ways in which light is making a difference in our daily lives and to exchange ideas on the solutions light-based technologies can provide to current global challenges. The two-day ceremony gathered leading scientists, as well as decision makers, NGO representatives and industry representatives to discuss all aspects of light.

The programme included lectures by five Nobel Prize laureates: Ahmed Zewail, Steven Chu, William Phillips, Serge Haroche and Zhores Alferov.

You can watch below some highlights from the ceremony.

Light is Here installation at UNESCO HQ. Credit: Kari Kola.

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Inspired by Light: Reflections from the International Year of Light 2015 Book

January 18, 2016January 18, 2016light2015 3 Comments

IYL_2015_Inspired_by_Light_cover Inspired by Light: Reflections from the International Year of Light 2015, is a collection of 56 blog posts from researchers, industry professionals, students, NGO representatives, a Nobel laureate, and other authors from 24 countries that were published on the IYL 2015 blog. This book, to be published in January 2016 for distribution at the IYL 2015 Closing Ceremony, was produced by SPIE in concert with the European Physical Society and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) to celebrate the achievements of IYL 2015. Contributions in the book cover, light in culture, education, science, and technology with essays that pay homage to the people throughout history who have advanced light-based technologies, and to the many ways humanity has been influenced and inspired by light.

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Passing on the Light

January 14, 2016January 13, 2016light2015 Leave a comment

“Having light we pass it on to others” is the motto of my undergraduate alma mater, Wittenberg University. But it could easily be a theme for the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 (IYL 2015). As the celebratory year closes, those of us who have light (who understand its unique position in and promise for our world) have a duty to continue passing on to others our love & appreciation of light.