Welcome to the International
Year of Light and Light-based Technologies! Throughout 2015 the United Nations has chosen to promote photonics – the science of using light in various
technological applications, from medicine to telecommunications to computing.
The initiative will highlight the importance of light-based technologies with
the aim of generating further investment from institutions around the world. Member
states will be encouraged to educate their citizens on the subject, and to provide
improved access to light-based technologies such as fibre optics.
The UN’s annual initiatives are
designed to raise awareness of serious global issues. For instance, last year
saw the promotion of family farming, with a focus on sustainable food
production. For 2015’s Year of Light, the emphasis is on how optical
technologies can provide solutions to a number of global challenges. For
example, solar power technologies are set to revolutionise the way the world is
powered, as scientists find more and more ways to harness the Sun’s energy. In
medicine, lasers are routinely used in surgical procedures, helping to save
lives. And in communications, fibre optics can bring faster internet
connections to communities worldwide.
The Year of Light will officially begin
on the 19th January, with a two-day opening ceremony in Paris. Visit light2015.org throughout the year for a complete and up-to-date list of
worldwide events, including workshops, exhibitions, lectures and conferences.
Watch Fibre Optics to see how light waves can be used to transport information
over vast distances.
