1. The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015
Health
Communications
Economy
Environment
Social

2. Background
Endorsed by the UNESCO Executive Board in 2012 and UNESCO General Conference in 2013, a resolution by the UN General Assembly was adopted on 20 December 2013

3. Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and United States of America

4. IEEE Photonics Society is a Founding Partner since 2010
International Year of Light also supported by URSI and other ICSU Unions

5. Partnership

6. What the UN wants To promote light technologies for improved quality of life in developed and developing world To reduce light pollution and energy waste To promote women’s empowerment in science To promote education amongst young people To promote sustainable development

7. For example Internet use by population 75% in Europe 16% in Africa
Study after sunset is not possible in many developing countries because there is no grid lighting

8. Potential is very broad
Origin of Life
Healthcare
Communications & GPS
Optical Instruments
The Universe

9. More than science Cultural Heritage Education for All Nature
Light and Art

10. Focus on science 1015: 1000 years of Arabic optics
1815: 200 years of Fresnel’s theory of diffraction
1865: 150 years since Maxwell’s electrodynamics
1915: Einstein Centenary, General Relativity.
1965: Cosmic Microwave Background, Penzias & Wilson Optical Fibre Technology, Charles Kao

11. This is like nothing we have ever done before How do we do it?
In 2009, the International Year of Astronomy reached 815 million people in 148 nations

12. Many ways …
Existing events for 2015 can be planned to focus on light and photonics
We can link with a broader international and national programme of activities being planned at the moment and which will start to roll out in April-May 2014
Linking with the French National Committee is the easiest way to coordinate our actions, but we can also leverage the IEEE itself
There are specific opportunities for us to help Region 8 countries in the International Year of Light, promoting science in Africa and celebrating 1000 years of Arabic optics
We only have one chance at this – there will not be another technology-oriented year declared by the UN for some time

13. International Actions
Secretariat operating out of the ICTP UNESCO Cat I centre in Trieste, Italy
Coordinated globally by UNESCO HQ in Paris
The Chairman of the International Steering Committee is J. Dudley (FIEEE, Besançon) so we have very straightforward ways of making contact

14. National Actions
CNOP – organisers of 50 Years of the Laser in 2010 – have launched a national committee (open to all partners; aim is coordination and optimising resources)

15. The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015
We have a unique chance to promote science and technology in 2015
We must take advantage of 2015 to to raise the profile of science and technology to decision-makers, funding agencies, and the public
We can inspire a new generation