International Year of Light
A full year dedicated to spreading the word on the importance of photonics.
January 20, 2016
The International Year of Light (IYL 2015) is a global initiative which aims to drive home the importance of light and light-based technologies in all of our lives, as well as in the sustainable development of society as a whole. The United Nations, in proclaiming an International Year focusing on the topic of photonics and its applications, explicitly recognized the importance of raising global awareness on its ubiquity and potential.
One year ago today, the Opening Ceremony took place at the UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. Since that time, through its coordination of ECOP (European Centers for Outreach in Photonics), one of the founding science partners of IYL 2015, ICFO has enthusiastically taken up the cause, organizing a series of events for industry, students, the scientific community, teachers, and the general public. In particular ICFO’s coordination of the pan-European ECOP project, “GoPhoton!” has enabled us to make a significant contribution to a wide range of activities carried out across Europe.
The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 (IYL2015) has been a tremendously successful global initiative with thousands of events reaching millions of people in over a hundred countries. The International Year will be brought to an official close with a ceremony held over three days from 4-6 February 2016 in Mérida, Mexico, with Keynote addresses by Nobel Laureates John Mather (2006) and Shuji Nakamura (2014) as well as talks by other international leaders in the field, including ICFO director Lluis Torner.
... but the celebration continues! With too many ideas and celebrations to take place in just one calendar year, IYL activities will officially continue through June 2016! Stay tuned!
One year ago today, the Opening Ceremony took place at the UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. Since that time, through its coordination of ECOP (European Centers for Outreach in Photonics), one of the founding science partners of IYL 2015, ICFO has enthusiastically taken up the cause, organizing a series of events for industry, students, the scientific community, teachers, and the general public. In particular ICFO’s coordination of the pan-European ECOP project, “GoPhoton!” has enabled us to make a significant contribution to a wide range of activities carried out across Europe.
The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 (IYL2015) has been a tremendously successful global initiative with thousands of events reaching millions of people in over a hundred countries. The International Year will be brought to an official close with a ceremony held over three days from 4-6 February 2016 in Mérida, Mexico, with Keynote addresses by Nobel Laureates John Mather (2006) and Shuji Nakamura (2014) as well as talks by other international leaders in the field, including ICFO director Lluis Torner.
... but the celebration continues! With too many ideas and celebrations to take place in just one calendar year, IYL activities will officially continue through June 2016! Stay tuned!