The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies was mandated by the UN General Assembly in 2013 to boost public awareness on the influence of photonics – or, the science and technology of generating, controlling, and detecting photons, or light particles – on everyday life.
The Year was endorsed by the ISC predecessors – the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC) – as well as by a number of scientific unions: IAU (International Astronomical Union), ISPRS (The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing), IUHPS/DHST (International Union of History and Philosophy of Science/ Division of History of Science and Technology), IUPAB (The International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics), IUPAP (The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics), IUTAM (The International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics) and URSI (International Union of Radio Science). It has also brought together more than 100 partners from over 85 countries.
“As we strive to end poverty and promote shared prosperity, light technologies can offer practical solutions to global challenges.”
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in a message delivered to the opening ceremony.
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