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Dear Supporters of the International Day of Light,

 
It is my great pleasure to write this first newsletter announcing the plans for the International Day of Light in 2019 (IDL2019).  I would also like to thank you all once again for making the inaugural edition in 2018 such a success.  Thanks to your support and commitment, over 640 events took place worldwide in more than 80 countries, kicked off by a spectacular inauguration at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.  If you wish to revisit the Paris event in particular, you can see some events photos on the UNESCO Flickr page and some of the talks are also available on the official International Day of Light YouTube channel.
 
As I write this, light science and technology has again been recognized at the highest level with the award of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics, and the International Day of Light community joins in offering sincere congratulations to Professors Ashkin, Mourou and Strickland for their pioneering contributions to light science. For the celebration of the International Day of Light in 2019, events focusing on all aspects of light science and applications will again be supported.  From the many ways that light drives basic science to the importance of photonic technologies to sustainable development, activities at all levels and for all ages are strongly encouraged.
 
In collaboration with UNESCO, there will be a special focus for 2019 on the use of light science as a means of stimulating education in science and engineering, especially in developing countries.  This theme will be called Illuminating Education and will be the subject of a special one-day conference held at the UNESCO Category I Institute ICTP in Trieste, Italy on the 16 May 2019.  This event will see ICTP Dirac Medallist and Distinguished Visiting Fellow Sir Michael Berry deliver a Plenary Lecture on Light in Nature, followed by thematic sessions covering areas of education, entrepreneurship, career development for young researchers, and the use of light as a lever for sustainable development.  
 
Special international Day of Light activities will also be part of the Education and Training in Optics (ETOP) conference that will take place in Quebec, Canada from 21-24 May 2019.  Many other partners are actively preparing their own events for 2019, and please register your event for inclusion in the official International Day of Light2019 calendar (more information below).  Please note that International Day of Light events do not have to be restricted to the 16 May itself, andif you already have details about events you are going to organize, please enter the details on www.lightday.org so we can publicize it immediately. 
 
We are grateful to the many partners who have already committed to sponsorship of the International Day of Light2019, and we would like to welcome all interested new partners and sponsors who wish to help our goals in 2019.  In particular, we are seeking sponsor support to bring as many attendees as we can from developing countries and regions to attend the UNESCO-ICTP event on 16 May 2019 in Italy.  See below for the sponsorship levels available with differing benefitsand please contact the International Day of Light Secretariat for any enquiry.
 
You may also be interested to learn that 2019 is the UN International Year of the Periodic Table of the Elements.  So there are possibilities to consider events or speakers on topics that combine the themes of the “elements” with the many themes of light.  See here for more details.  2019 is a busy year for science outreach as it is also the 100th anniversary of the International Astronomical Union who are holding a worldwide celebration with many activities that you may wish to link with, either for IDL2019 or in the context of other activities.  See the IAU 100 website for more details.  
 
Finally, we have also renamed our different social media channels to reflect the transition to the International Day of Light 2019. Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook pages tostay up-to-date about latest news and use hashtag #IDL2019 for anything related to the International Day of Light.
 
John Dudley and Joseph Niemela
International Day of Light 2019 Steering Committee Chairs
 
 

NEWS

 

REGISTER YOUR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIGHT 2019 EVENT


Register your event for inclusion in the official International Day of Light 2019 calendar here. The submission must be in English. International Day of Light events can be hosted on or around May16, and please note that the IDL Secretariat may edit some content if needed.
 
All events must respect the general goals of the International Day of Light in promoting science, education, art, culture, etc. related to the broad themes of light and light-based technologies. All events should also respect the general aim of UNESCO in contributing to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.
 
Any changes to events that have been already included in the calendar should be communicated to the Secretariat via email to dayoflight@eps.org

 

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIGHT 2019 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

 

 As a Supporting Partner of the International Day of Light 2019, you will receive worldwide visibility through association with the International Day of Light activities led by UNESCO and many other partners from science, industry, education and the non-profit and NGO communities.  Three levels of sponsorship available with differing benefits:

1) Silver sponsors (500 Euros) will receive full acknowledgment and listing in the website and programme, and in all official documentation and reports for UNESCO and National Delegations.
 
2) Gold Sponsors (1,000 Euros) receive the same benefits as Silver, but in addition will receive logo visibility in the programme, and the possibility to display a Roll-up and provide material to delegates during the Illuminating Education conference at UNESCO-ICTP on 16 May 2019.  
 
3) Platinum Sponsors (2,500 Euros) receive all benefits of Gold, but with enhanced logo visibility (separate panels, larger size), larger exhibit space at UNESCO-ICTP on 16 May 2019, as well as a personalised introduction and networking opportunities during the event.
 
In addition, there are higher-level partnership options available with customised benefit packages (including at the highest level of Steering Committee Member) that can be tailored to your interests. For any enquiry about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the International Day Secretariat via email to dayoflight@eps.org.
 

IDL2019 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS ACTIVITIES

 

SPIE International Day of Light Micro Grants

 


SPIE IDL Micro Grants will support local community events and activities that highlight the critical role that light plays in our daily lives. The SPIE IDL Micro Grants will not exceed $3,000 USD and are available to SPIE Members only. More Information here.  
 

The Optical Society (OSA)

 
Opportunities will launch soon for OSA Student Chapters and Local Sections to host their International Day of Light events. For more information, please contact chaptersandsections@osa.org. More information on how you can participate with OSA will soon be posted here.
 
 

EVENTS 

 

International Day of Light Illuminating Education Conference

 
Date: 16 May 2019 (all day) Location: UNESCO ICTP, Trieste, Italy
 
Illuminating Education is a special one-day conference held at the UNESCO Category I Institute ICTP in Trieste, Italy on the 16 May 2019.  This event will see ICTP Dirac Medallist and Distinguished Visiting Fellow Sir Michael Berry deliver a Plenary Lecture on Light in Nature, followed by thematic sessions covering areas of education, entrepreneurship, career development for young researchers, and the use of light as a lever for sustainable development.  Registration and programme information will be available in December 2018.   
 

RESOURCES

 
The International Day of Light community developed a wide range of resources during 2018, and many of these can be readily used to promote the goals of IDL2019.  Please see the links on the webpage https://www.lightday.org/resources that provide educational material, videos, images, logos and much other material.  The websites of our Steering Committee members also provide a wide range of other resources and please do not hesitate to explore what they have made available.
 
Copyright © International Day of Light

Our mailing address is:
dayoflight@eps.org

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International Day of Light Secretariat · Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics ICTP · Str. Costiera 11 · Trieste, TS 34151 · Italy

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