International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015

International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015
Title	International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015
Year	2015
Proclaimed by	United Nations
Theme	Light-based technologies

Contents

International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 was a United Nations observance that promoted awareness of the role of light and optical technologies in science, culture, and development. It connected institutions such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Year of Light Secretariat, and national bodies including the Royal Society, the Max Planck Society, and the National Academy of Sciences through worldwide events and initiatives. The proclamation mobilized collaborations among organizations like the International Commission for Optics, the IEEE Photonics Society, and the European Optical Society to highlight advances in areas from Albert Einstein's 1905 work to modern laser applications.

Background and designation

The designation followed proposals by scientific communities including the International Astronomical Union, the International Union for Pure and Applied Physics, and the International Commission for Optics, and was formally approved by the United Nations General Assembly after advocacy by figures associated with the International Year of Light Steering Committee. The initiative referenced historical milestones such as Isaac Newton's work, James Clerk Maxwell's equations, and Heinrich Hertz's experiments while aligning with observances like the World Science Day for Peace and Development and commemorations related to Albert Einstein and Max Planck. National committees led by institutions like the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Indian Institute of Science coordinated local designation events.

Primary objectives included raising public awareness through partnerships with organizations such as the European Commission, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to emphasize applications in telecommunications exemplified by fiber-optic communication, in energy exemplified by solar cell research led by groups like the Fraunhofer Society, and in medicine exemplified by endoscopy and optical coherence tomography research at institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and the Johns Hopkins University. Themes spanned heritage and culture associated with sites like the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and the Smithsonian Institution, as well as industry innovation involving companies and consortia such as Nokia, Siemens, and the Photonics21 technology platform. Educational aims were pursued with partners including the European Space Agency, the CERN, and the American Physical Society through public lectures, exhibitions, and school programmes.

Major events included international conferences organized by the International Astronomical Union, the Optical Society (OSA), and the SPIE on topics ranging from quantum optics to photovoltaics; exhibitions were mounted at venues such as the Science Museum, London, the Palais de la Découverte, and the Boston Museum of Science. Regional programmes involved collaborations with the African Academy of Sciences, the Indian National Science Academy, and the Academia Sinica hosting workshops on technologies like LED lighting and spectroscopy. Educational outreach featured initiatives by the European Southern Observatory, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science that linked astronomical outreach, optics curricula, and industry internships in partnership with organizations such as the Royal Society, the Kavli Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust.

The observance catalyzed sustained programmes in research funding at agencies like the European Commission through Horizon 2020 calls, spurred university curricula developments at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, and Tsinghua University, and influenced industrial roadmaps produced by bodies such as Photonics21 and the European Technology Platform Photonics21. It helped accelerate initiatives in sustainable lighting promoted by the International Electrotechnical Commission and energy access projects supported by the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. Legacy outcomes include strengthened networks among the International Commission for Optics, the Optical Society, and regional academies like the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, plus a proliferation of public resources, museum exhibits, and continuing annual conferences hosted by organizations such as the SPIE and the IEEE Photonics Society.

Critiques arose from commentators in outlets associated with organizations like the Union of Concerned Scientists and from academics at universities including University of California, Berkeley and University of Oxford who argued that the observance privileged high-technology narratives tied to corporations such as Siemens and Intel Corporation over grassroots needs in regions served by the United Nations Development Programme. Debates occurred at meetings of the International Network for Government Science Advice and within forums of the Science Council regarding allocation of funding from agencies like the National Science Foundation and whether the campaign sufficiently addressed issues raised by nongovernmental organizations such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace about energy equity and cultural representation. Some professional societies, including factions within the Institute of Physics and the American Physical Society, called for more transparent metrics to assess long-term educational and socio-economic impacts.