Hundreds of future scientists and their families converged at the National Museum of the American Indian for “Wonders of Light – Family Science Fun,” an event celebrating the International Year of Light on September 12, 2015, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. organizing committee, including The Optical Society.
Children learning about light-based technology for The International Year of Light.
Optics companies, science and engineering societies organizations, educators and academic groups from across the country set up demonstrations and activities to teach children of all ages about the science of light and the impact light has on our daily lives. Hands on projects included holograms, interactive video games, infrared cell phone camera technology, laser transmitters and the Radiance Orb, an interactive light installation that is music reactive.
“The Science Community is well aware of the power of optics but it is critical that the greater public community share in that understanding and excitement.” said Elizabeth Rogan, CEO of The Optical Society. “One of the many goals in this International Year of Light is to explain and demonstrate the amazing innovations and discoveries due to the science of light.”
Participating organizations included: ThorLabs, Inc., Society of Physics Students, Open Photonics, Inc., Opto-electronic and Light-wave Engineering Group from North Carolina State University, SPIE student chapter at the College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida, Michigan Light Project, IEEE Photonics Society, Distributed Electronic Cosmic-Ray Observatory, Center for Integrated Access Networks, Bio and Nano-Photonics Laboratory at the University of California at Los Angeles, Inside Science News Service, Full Body Physics, Laboratory for Advance Semiconductor Epitaxy University at the University of Texas at Austin, Laser-Tec, Midwest Photonics Education Center, NASA and New England chapter of The Optical Society.
About the International Year of Light
The International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies (IYL 2015) is a global initiative adopted to raise awareness of how optical technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to worldwide challenges in energy, education, agriculture, communications and health. The goal of IYL 2015 is to highlight to the citizens of the world the importance of light and optical technologies in their lives, for their futures and for the development of society.
The U.S. celebration was sponsored by the U.S. International Year of Light Organizing Committee: National Science Foundation, National Academy of Sciences, The Optical Society, SPIE, American Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, and the IEEE Photonics Society.
Follow The Optical Society on Twitter and Facebook for photos from the event and learn more about the International Year of Light by visiting www.light2015.org.