Search
Menu
PI Physik Instrumente - Revolution In Photonics Align ROSLB 3/24

UN Committee Endorses International Year of Light in 2015

Facebook X LinkedIn Email
A resolution declaring 2015 as the International Year of Light was endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and backed by 28 other nations, at the organization’s 190th session in Paris last week. Its adoption paves the way for approval by the full UN general assembly.

The International Year of Light (IYOL) — an initiative developed in 2009 by numerous international scientific societies and organizations led by the European and African Physical Societies — is being organized to communicate the importance of light and optical technologies in our lives, for our futures and for the development of society. It was unanimously approved in November 2011 by the executive council of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics at its 27th General Assembly in London. The UN General Assembly will make a final declaration late next year.

UNESCOThe proposal was introduced to UNESCO’s executive board by delegates from Ghana, Mexico, the Russian Federation and New Zealand on behalf of a global partnership of more than 40 scientific societies, institutions and academies. SPIE, the American Physical Society, the Institute of Physics and OSA all are members of the partnership.

"We are very pleased that UNESCO has supported the resolution for the International Year of Light," said OSA CEO Elizabeth Rogan, who serves on the International Year of Light’s advisory board. "Having the support of a prestigious body like UNESCO will help raise global awareness of the importance of optics and photonics. OSA looks forward to participating to increase public understanding of light-based technologies and advance our vibrant field with this program."

Rocky Mountain Instruments - Custom Assemblies MR

The program will consist of coordinated activities in science, education and development across four themes:
  • Science of Light: Addressing how studying the fundamental scientific properties of light impacts widely on all fields of science, technology and engineering.

  • Tools for the Future: Highlighting particular examples of light as an enabling technology in medicine, biophotonics, communications and energy, as well as exciting emerging applications in the study and preservation of cultural heritage.

  • Light for Development: Promoting light-based technology to improve the quality of life, such as alternative energy, agricultural applications, disease prevention and water purification.

  • Pioneers of Light: Recognizing and highlighting the human stories of the historical figures behind the science of light and their groundbreaking contributions.
In addition to the executive board, supporters of the resolution included the following co-signatories: Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Kenya, Indonesia, Italy, Malawi, Nigeria, Peru, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Other member states of UNESCO who declared support for the initiative were Hungary, Serbia and South Africa.

For more information, visit: www.unesco.org

Published: October 2012
Glossary
photonics
The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics, and sophisticated systems. The range of applications of photonics extends from energy generation to detection to communications and...
American Physical SocietyAmericasAngolaAsia-PacificBangladeshBrazilBurkina FasoBusinessChinaCommunicationsCongoConsumerCubaDjiboutiEcuadorElizabeth RoganEnglandEthiopiaEuropeEuropean and African Physical SocietiesFranceGabonGambiaGhanaHungaryIndonesiaInstitute of PhysicsInternational Union of Pure and Applied PhysicsInternational Year of LightItalyKenyalight for developmentlight scienceMalawiMexicoMiddle EastNew ZealandNigeriaOpticsOSAPeruphotonicspioneers of lightResearch & TechnologyRussian FederationSaudi Arabiascience of lightSerbiaSouth AfricaSpainSPIEThailandthe Republic of Koreathe United Arab Emiratesthe United States of AmericaTunisiaUNESCOUnited Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural OrganizationVenezuelaZimbabweIYL2015

We use cookies to improve user experience and analyze our website traffic as stated in our Privacy Policy. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them.