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ICTP is delighted to announce that it will act as Global
Secretariat for the International Year of Light and Light-based
Technologies (IYL) which will take place in 2015.
The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies is a
global initiative adopted by the United Nations to raise awareness
of how optical technologies promote sustainable development and
provide solutions to worldwide challenges in energy, education,
agriculture, communications and health. IYL actions during 2015
will promote improved public and political understanding of the
central role of light in the modern world while also celebrating
noteworthy scientific anniversaries in 2015, from the first studies
of optics 1000 years ago to discoveries in optical communications
that power the Internet today.
ICTP scientist Joe Niemela, who will lead the coordination
efforts, says, "Together with many partner societies in the fields
of physics and optics, ICTP has been a major driver of the
International Year of Light initiative since its launch in 2010.
Our experience and our networks will allow us to identify new
important partnerships and opportunities for education in light
science, and the promotion of photonic technologies where they are
needed, especially in developing countries."
With UNESCO as lead agency, the IYL Global Secretariat at ICTP
will play a central role in coordinating the actions of the
international scientific community and stakeholders with the UNESCO
International Basic Sciences Programme at UNESCO headquarters in
Paris.
For more information visit www.eps.org/light2015 or
please make enquiries to light2015@ictp.it.
About the International Year of Light and Light-based
Technologies
Founding Scientific Sponsors of IYL 2015 are the American Physical
Society (APS), the European Physical Society (EPS), the IEEE
Photonics Society (IPS), the International Society for Optics and
Photonics (SPIE), the Lightsources.org International Network and
The Optical Society (OSA).
The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies resolution was adopted on the recommendation of the United Nations Second Committee, with co-sponsorship from 35 countries: Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and United States of America.
