International Year of Light 2025; May 16th.

FORUM: ''Light, Innovation, Society.'' International Day of Light 2025. The theme will highlight the multiple ways in which light-based technologies advance science, drive innovation, and increase societal well-being. For example, light is at the centre of many scientific advances in fields such as optics and photonics, while engineering and technological innovations in areas such as solar energy and medical imaging improve our quality of life, and support sustainable development for the benefit of society. This theme also closely aligns with the United Nations International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025, since it was the study of light and its properties that was central to the development of quantum mechanics in the early 20th century, a domain of science which is revolutionising our world today. This year the panel discussion will focus on Light: A catalyst for advancing science, technology, innovation and development; Follow the conservations with the hashtags: #IDL2025; #Lightinnovationsociety.#IAUOutreach, #Photonics, #LightbasedTechnologies, #Light, #16May, #DarkSkies4All, #InternationalDayofLight.

ACTIVITIES: From time to time, IDL focuses on themes for the International Day of Light, and this year the IDL steering committee encourages activities structured around the theme of Light, Innovation, Society. Every year the IDL steering committee invites people worldwide, of all ages and all backgrounds, to organise and register their events for the global celebration on a national, regional and international level. Registering an event for IDL, is a great chance to become part of the international light science and applications outreach community, and to make a significant societal impact by raising awareness of the applications of light science and technology, sustainable development, and promoting science education through the highly-accessible subject of light. Our website contains useful resources and information to help one get started and plan activities for the 2025 celebrations. We are looking forward to yet another successful global celebration of the science of light.

EVENTS: The International Day of Light (IDL) is an UNESCO annual observance that provides a focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. After the success of the International Year of Light in 2015, it was clear that the proclamation of an International Day of Light would further contribute to raising the profile of science and technology, stimulating education, and in improving the quality of life worldwide. Since its inauguration in 2018, the International Day of Light has seen almost 3000 events taking place in over 61 countries reaching new audiences every year, especially in regions with minimal means of support for outreach events. Events organised range from classroom/online lessons, optics workshops in schools, open days to multi-day conferences, public exhibitions and light festivals. The International Day of Light is held on May 16th every year, mark the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. The laser is a perfect example of how a scientific discovery can yield revolutionary benefits to society in communications, healthcare and many other fields. Moreover, the broad theme of light will allow many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrate how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality, and peace. 

International Day of Light 2024; May 16th.

FORUM: “Light in our lives.“ International Day of Light 2024. Light continues to play a central role in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. The broad theme of light will allow many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrates how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality, and peace. What does the dark and quiet sky mean to you? To us, it means a whole lot. We will host our Dark and Quiet Skies month in May. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #IAUOutreach, #Photonics, #LightbasedTechnologies, #Light, #16May, #DarkSkies4All, #InternationalDayofLight.

EVENTS: On and around May 16th; The International Day of Light 2024 will be held at UNESCO HQ and around the world. The celebration will provide a platform for continued appreciation of the central role that light science and technologies play in the lives of citizens with coordinated activities on national, regional and international levels. Activities will be planned for people of all ages and all backgrounds to understand the role of light in science and culture and participate to cross-cutting scientific disciplines that can advance sustainable development. For more information on the celebrations, Explore the worldwide events and learn how you can get involved!

On April 2024 was held the International Dark Sky Week, From May–November you will be able to watch the DarkSky Awards; On November the Under One Sky Global Conference will be held.

WEBINARS: Subscribe to participate the the monthly series of virtual talks on “Night Matters.” organized by the DarkSky members


PHOTO CONTEST: The Capture the Dark Photo Contest is temporarily postponed.

 

STATEMENTS: "Without light, our planet would be but a cold and barren place. Indeed, where there is light, there is often an abundance of life. Yet light represents even more for humanity. Light goes hand in hand with knowledge; it is a lens through which to see and understand the world."Message from the Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion.

WEBCASTS: Watch the livestream of the International Day of Light 2024 cebration May 16th.

International Day of Light 2023; May 16th.

 FORUM: “Let’s celebrate Light.“ International Day of Light 2023. Light continues to play a central role in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. The broad theme of light will allow many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrates how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality, and peace. Follow the conversation with the hashtags:  #IAUOutreach, #Photonics, #LightbasedTechnologies, #Light, #16May, #DarkSkies4All, #InternationalDayofLight.

EVENTS: The International Day of Light 2023 will be held at UNESCO headquarters and around the world on May 16th. The celebration of the day will provide a platform for continued appreciation of the central role that light science and technologies play in the lives of citizens from all over the world. The celebrations consist of coordinated activities on national, regional and international levels. Activities will be planned so that people of all ages and all backgrounds can gain an appreciation for the central role of light in science and culture, and as a cross-cutting scientific discipline that can advance sustainable development. Explore the 2023 Worldwide events!

Statement from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Day of Light 2023; May 16th.

We are living in times when our entire relationship with the living world needs to be rethought. Yet, be we humans, animals, plants or bacteria, we all rely on one basic principle towards which it is equally vital that we turn our attention – light.The International Day of Light celebrates the physical, social and artistic uses of light, and aims to promote a better understanding of it.Without light, our planet would be but a cold and barren place. Indeed, where there is light, there is often an abundance of life.Yet light represents even more for humanity. Light goes hand in hand with knowledge; it is a lens through which to see and understand the world.The need to observe and to understand is a profoundly human need that transcends all differences and borders, as evidenced by the International Centre for Synchrotron Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME), set up under the auspices of UNESCO. Indeed, this particle accelerator allows researchers from throughout the Middle East and beyond to contribute to human progress by working together to study the properties of light.Since Einstein, light has also been a metaphysical experience of space and time – the final and ultimate frontier of humankind.In this respect, and as dynamic as this field of science is, for Homo sapiens, light is not only a gateway to and a source of knowledge. It also represents the very heart of the human experience – our emotions, our feelings, and a certain sense of poetry. This is why light is at the forefront of all the arts; while painters have sought to unlock its secrets, craftspeople have endeavoured to harness it through positioning, reflecting and filtering. And when it is not being manoeuvred in these ways, light takes over the role of the artist, casting colour, shadow and pastel tones over our landscapes.Light is at the very crossroads of all the components of UNESCO’s mandate. From making science more open and promoting careers in research, especially for women, to making commitments to education, to cultural diversity and diversity of heritage, and to the free distribution of information, our organization’s efforts all share a single vision - a brighter future. And for us, to unite the common goods that are education, culture, science, information, and – as today is all about it – light is to create a not only brighter, but also more sustainable future.

UNESCO Director-General.

International Day of Light 2022; May 16th.

FORUM: "The central role that light plays in the lives of the citizens of the world." International Day of Light 2022.

The applications of light science and technology are vital for advances in medicine, communications, entertainment and culture, and that light-based technologies respond to the needs of humankind by providing access to information and increasing societal well-being, and promoting peace through improved communications.

                       

EVENTS  The celebration of the  International Day of Light 2022 will reach an audience of millions of Research Scientists, light Industry sector leaders and members of the public worldwide. We welcome inquiries from both the Private-public sector partnership.

The International Day of Light is celebrated on 16 May each year, the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. This day is a call to strengthen scientific cooperation and harness its potential to foster peace and sustainable development.

 

societal well-being, and promoting peace through improved communications,

Internatonal Day of Light 2021; May 16

 The International Day of Light, celebrated on 16 May, is a global initiative highlighting to the citizens of the world the importance of light and light-based technologies in their lives, for their futures, and for the development of society.

Light is an element that draws together many areas of human knowledge: physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, engineering, and art. Moreover, optical phenomena and the technologies based on them are widespread in our daily lives. However, it can be difficult to understand or explain these phenomena. What is light? Where are optics and photonics present in our lives and in nature? What lies behind different optical phenomena? What is an optical instrument? How does the eye resemble an optical instrument? How can we explain human vision?

FORUM: International Day of Light 2021

OSA and SPIE collaborated very actively with the major optics and physics societies to approach UNESCO and ask the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2015 as “The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies.” The success of this celebration lead to a new goal: to get an International Day of Light (IDL). It was approved by UNESCO, and 2018 was the first year we could celebrate the IDL on May 16th. The IO-CSIC and the authors of this book have participated very actively with the organisation of education and outreach events in schools and in the Institute of Optics. The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies, as well as the IDL, are global initiatives to raise awareness of how optical technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to worldwide challenges in energy, education, agriculture, communications and health. Light is central to life, science, technology, art and culture. Light can promote education at all levels. Light technology drives development. There was a United Nations observance that aimed to raise awareness of the achievements of light science and its applications, and its importance to humankind. Books like this communicate to society as a whole the importance of light in today’s world and inspire a new generation of students and interest them in studying science. People are familiar with many natural light phenomena that we see daily and with light-based technologies because we use many devices in which light plays a crucial role. However, they do not always know the science behind them. If it is explained in an easy and amusing way, we can attract many people who will be surprised by the beauty of science

CAMPAIGN: Trust Science Pledge – Various Languages

The 2021 campaign for the day of light is a pledge to support evidence-based science worldwide.

PUBLICATION: Discovering Light fun experiments with optics