International Year of Light Comes to Washington D.C. on September 12th
August 26, 2015 | By Business Wire News
WASHINGTON
To promote the progress and promise of light research and education, leading U.S. science organizations will host two events on Saturday, September 12, 2015, in Washington.
The events are organized by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in conjunction with The American Institute of Physics, The American Physical Society, The IEEE Photonics Society, The National Academy of Sciences, The Optical Society and the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE).
The two day and evening programs will mark the International Year of Light, a yearlong celebration of light science and its applications, as proclaimed by the United Nations.
These events will feature the latest in light-based technologies as well as leading scientists and educators to promote improved public understanding of the central role of light in the modern world.
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Wonders of Light: Family Science Fun |
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| WHAT: | An educational event for school-age children with activities demonstrating the science of light | ||
| WHEN: | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm E.T. on September 12 | ||
| WHERE: | The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian | ||
| 4th St & Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560 | |||
| WHO: | Public and media are welcome; no RSVP required | ||
| * The first 1,000 visitors will receive an International Year of Light tote bag. | |||
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Hands-on activities include: |
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• A LED-orb that changes color with music |
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• An interactive video game using sensors |
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• A green screen to be a reporter for a day |
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Light for a Better World: A Celebration of U.S. Innovation |
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| WHAT: | A public symposium and invitation-only reception | ||
| WHEN: | 6:00 – 9:00 pm E.T. on September 12 | ||
| WHERE: | National Academy of Sciences | ||
| 2101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20418 | |||
| WHO: | Media and invited guests | ||
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Interested members of the media, please contact pwimmer@osa.org. |
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This symposium will feature: |
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• Eric Betzig, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2014 Nobel Prize Winner |
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• France Córdova, National Science Foundation Director |
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• Gerald Duffy, GE Lighting Manager |
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• Michael Liehr, AIM Photonics CEO |
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• Shuji Nakamura, University of California Santa Barbara, 2014 Nobel Prize Winner |
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About The International Year of Light
The International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies (IYL 2015) is a global initiative adopted by the United Nations (A/RES/68/221) to raise awareness of how optical technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to worldwide challenges in energy, education, agriculture, communications and health. With UNESCO as lead agency, IYL 2015 programs will promote improved public and political understanding of the central role of light in the modern world while also celebrating noteworthy anniversaries in 2015—from the first studies of optics 1,000 years ago to discoveries in optical communications that power the Internet today. The IYL Global Secretariat is located at the Abdus Salam International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP).
The Founding Partners of IYL 2015 are the American Institute of Physics (AIP), the American Physical Society (APS), the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG), the European Physical Society (EPS), the Abdus Salam International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the IEEE Photonics Society (IPS), the Institute of Physics (IOP), Light: Science and Applications, the lightsources.org International Network, 1001 Inventions, The Optical Society (OSA) and the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE).
Patron Sponsors include Bosca, the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), Royal Philips Lighting, Thorlabs and UL.
For more information on the International Year of Light, please visit, www.light2015.org.
For more information about NSF-funded light research and education, visit NSF.gov/light.
About NSF
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2015, its budget is $7.3 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 48,000 competitive proposals for funding, and makes about 11,000 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $626 million in professional and service contracts yearly.
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The American Institute of Physics
Jason Socrates Bardi, +1 240-535-4954
jbardi@aip.org
Twitter: @jasonbardi
or
The American Physical Society
James Riordon, +1 301-209-3238
riordon@aps.org
Twitter: @APSphysics
or
The National Academy of Sciences
Molly Galvin, +1 202-334-3786
mgalvin@nas.edu
Twitter: @NASciences
or
National Science Foundation
Sarah A. Bates, +1 703-292-7738
sabates@nsf.gov
Twitter: @NSF
or
The Optical Society
Rebecca B. Andersen, +1 202-416-1443
randersen@osa.org
Twitter: @OpticalSociety
or
SPIE
Amy Nelson, +1 360-685-5478
amy@spie.org
Twitter: @SPIETweets
