International Year of Light
The United Nations (UN) proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies. It is a global initiative to illustrate the importance of light and optical technologies. The opening ceremony occurred this week in Paris.
Light plays an important role in our daily lives. Through photosynthesis, light is necessary to the existence of life itself. While light-based technologies, such as optical fibres, have revolutionized society through medicine, communications, entertainment and culture. And most importantly, these technologies support sustainable development and provide solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture and health. The importance of light reaches far beyond life on Earth. Light has helped us to see and better understand the universe.
It’s easy to overlook the significance of light. We are so used to having light in our daily lives. We’re also often not aware of how light-based technologies affect almost everything we do. It is in consumer electronics (barcode scanners, DVD players, remote TV control), telecommunications (Internet), health (eye surgery, medical instruments), manufacturing industry (laser cutting and machining), defense and security (infrared camera, remote sensing), entertainment (holography, laser shows) and much more.
To learn more about light, take a look at these books:
To learn more about photosynthesis, the process of how plants and organisms convert light energy into chemical energy, take a look at these books:
Energy from our sun that reaches Earth can be converted into heat and electricity. This is one of the major initiatives by scientists and governments to develop affordable and clean solar energy technologies. To learn more about sustainable energy, take a look at these books:
The Internet changed the way we communicate. Through social media, low cost telephone calls and video conferencing we are able to stay connected with friends and family. This technology is possible because of light. These e-books look at optical communication, a light-based technology:
From sunsets to rainbows, the natural world contains a wonderful range of light and colours. Take a look at these books to see light in nature:
Unfortunately, the importance of light is often unknown. We take for granted the light in our homes, the Internet we use daily to stay connected with loved ones, the vegetables we eat and much, much more. It is so great that the UN decided to declare 2015 as the Year of Light to bring awareness to the world the vital role light and light-based technologies plays in our lives. This is a great opportunity to learn and to join in on the events that are happening throughout Canada. The Canadian Association of Physicists are also hosting numerous events, including lectures.
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