21 August 2014 - IYL2015

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly 68th Session has proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015). The IYL2015 consortium is delighted to welcome into its partnership the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) as a Patron sponsor, and to include as a major focus of the year’s activities Light in the Built Environment.

The theme of “Light in the Built Environment” addresses both indoor and outdoor environments. The goals of good lighting are to put light where it is needed, when it is needed, while simultaneously minimizing energy use and light pollution. Practitioners of many disciplines, from engineering to architecture, deal with light in the built environment. Lighting designers specialize in applying insights from both science and art to optimize lighting installations, improving human comfort and productivity while also highlighting architectural impact. IALD is the only global organization of independent lighting designers, all of whom are recognized as leaders in the field.

As John Dudley, Chairman of the IYL Steering Committee explains: “Figures suggest that lighting represents almost 20% of global electricity consumption. The future development of society in both developed countries and emerging economies around the world are intimately tied up with the ability to effectively light our cities, homes, schools and recreation areas. Moreover, addressing issues of light pollution is essential for many reasons – from reducing energy waste to allowing us to appreciate the beauty of the night sky. Raising awareness of the importance of the interdisciplinary theme of Light in the Built Environment will be a key goal of the International Year of Light in 2015.”

The IALD will celebrate IYL 2015 throughout the year within its existing worldwide program of activities, such as its annual portfolio of Enlighten conferences, and by integrating with the other activities planned by UNESCO and the IYL community.

Members of the IALD community work closely with a diverse range of scientists and experts in many fields. As IALD President Barbara Horton, FIALD, stresses: “The International Year of Light 2015 offers a great opportunity to help draw public attention to the impacts of light on human comfort, productivity and well-being. IYL 2015 will allow lighting organizations around the world to build public and policymaker understanding of the role that light and lighting play in daily life.”

As a Patron Sponsor of the International Year of Light, IALD will work closely with the IYL2015 Consortium to design and implement actions to highlight the crucial role that lighting design can play in improving the quality of people’s lives worldwide. IALD will kick-off its involvement in IYL2015 through participation in the Opening Ceremony of IYL2015 in January 2015, where an IALD speaker will highlight the importance of these themes in a special symposium on lighting challenges for the future.

About IYL 2015

The International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies (IYL 2015) is a global initiative adopted by the United Nations (A/RES/68/221) to raise awareness of how optical technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to worldwide challenges in energy, education, agriculture, communications and health. With UNESCO as lead agency, IYL 2015 programs will promote improved public and political understanding of the central role of light in the modern world while also celebrating noteworthy anniversaries in 2015—from the first studies of optics 1,000 years ago to discoveries in optical communications that power the Internet today. The IYL Global Secretariat is located at the International Centre of Theoretical Physics ICTP. Founding Partners of IYL 2015 are the American Institute of Physics (AIP), the American Physical Society (APS), the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG), the European Physical Society (EPS), the IEEE Photonics Society (IPS), the Institute of Physics (IOP), the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), the lightsources.org International Network, The Optical Society (OSA) and 1001Inventions.

Contacts

John Dudley
Steering Committee Chair
International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 president@eps.org

Joe Niemela
Global Coordinator (IYL Secretariat)
International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 light2015@ictp.it

Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga
Assistant Programme Specialist International Basic Sciences Programme UNESCO HQ, Paris jj.ngome-abiaga@unesco.org

About IALD

Founded in 1969 and based in Chicago, IL, USA, the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) is an internationally recognized organization dedicated solely to the concerns of independent, professional lighting designers. The IALD strives to set the global standard for lighting design excellence by promoting the advancement and recognition of professional lighting designers. Governed by an 11-member Board of Directors, the IALD is a volunteer association that relies on the active participation of its members. The over 1,000 lighting designers around the world who are members of the IALD hold a position of distinction and authority in the lighting design profession. Learn more at www.iald.org.

Contacts

John Martin
Public Policy
International Association of Lighting Designers [IALD] Tel. +1 415 898 5711
Mobile. +1 415 717 5200
john@iald.org

Download the press release

The International Physics Olympiad is a prestigious  competition for secondary school students from all over the world. This year the IPhO was held in Copenhagen (Denmark) from 7 to 15 July 2013 and gathered together 374 secondary school students.

The European Physical Society is sponsoring the IPhO for a student award. This year, the award was attributed to Attila Szabó from Hungary and to Katerina Marinova Naydenova from Bulgaria. The award is meant to stimulate the interest of science and notably physics amongst youngsters.

View photographs of the ceremony
Visit the IPhO 2013 website