PURPOSE: The International Day of Light is observed every year on 16 May to highlight the role of light in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. Through the researches accumulated over 2,000 years of time, the true nature of light or namely the photon was discovered. The celebration of the day offer to UNESCO an opportunity to fulfill its mission of promoting international cooperation in the basic sciences and STEM Education, and will contribute to achieving the objective to render science, technology and innovation accessible to all with a focus on Africa. It will provide also an enduring follow-up of the achievements of the International Year of Light by raising the profile of science and technology globally and highlighting its applications for stimulating education, improving quality of life worldwide, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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 conversations 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 of International Day of Light 2024; May 16th.
The major goals of the International Day of Light are:
Improve the public understanding of how light and light-based technologies touch the daily lives of everybody, and are central to the future development of the global society.
Build worldwide educational capacity through activities targeted on science for young people, addressing issues of gender balance, and focusing especially on developing countries and emerging economies.
Highlight and explain the intimate link between light and art and culture, enhancing the role of optical technology to preserve cultural heritage.
Enhance international cooperation by acting as a central information resource for activities coordinated by learned societies, NGOs, government agencies, educational establishments, industry, and other partners.
Emphasise the importance of basic research in the fundamental science of light, the need for investment in light-based technology to develop new applications, and the global necessity to promote careers in science and engineering in these fields.
Promote the importance of lighting technology and the need for access to light and energy infrastructure in sustainable development, and for improving quality of life in the developing world.
Raise awareness that technologies and design can play an important role in the achievement of greater energy efficiency, in particular by limiting energy waste, and in the reduction of light pollution, which is key to the preservation of dark skies.
PODCASTS: The history of the study of light has involved virtually all the major figures of science, and their stories reveal the human side of science in many different ways. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Light has long been considered divine. If we go by our cultural references, the Greeks were the first to study it. For them, light was closely linked to vision. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
Following a highly successful International Year of Light, which highlighted the importance of light-based sciences and technologies and saw more than 13,168 activities implemented in 147 countries, the Executive Board of UNESCO, at its 200th session, has established the International Day of Light on 16 May of every year (200 EX/Decision 27). The 39th General Conference has approved this decision in document 39 C/40. An International Day of Light will contribute to build new bridges between scientific disciplines, education and the art, responding to the critical need for interdisciplinary science, and improved dialogue between citizens, scientists, decision makers, industry leaders and non-governmental organisations.
GET INVOLVED!
The International Day of Light is a global initiative that provides a platform 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. 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.
PARNERHIPS
The International Day of Light is co-hosted by the UNITED NATIONS; The UNESCO; The 1001 Inventions; The International Astronomical Union (IAU); The SPIE.; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); The Dodd-Walls Centre; The International Associations of Light Designers (IALD); The II-VI Incorporated; The Institute of Physics (IOP); The Nature Photonics; The Canadian Association of Physics; The Eye Mission of the Pacific; The International Association of Physics Students (iaps); The Institute of research FEMTO-st; The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) and other sponsors.