“Our Future is Light” Campaign Kicks off 2022 International Day of Light
16.5.2022 18:03:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
An action-packed video styled as a blockbuster-movie trailer provides the linchpin for this year’s International Day of Light (IDL) campaign, “Our future is light. Play your part.” Released today, Day of Light features diverse characters successfully solving global-level problems using photonics-enabled technologies.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220516005150/en/
Sponsored by SPIE, Optica, and IEEE Photonics Society, this year’s International Day of Light celebration showcases exciting, critical career opportunities in optics and photonics. (Graphic: Business Wire)
Three professional societies – SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, IEEE Photonics Society, and Optica, Advancing Optics & Photonics Worldwide – partnered to create the video and the accompanying 2022 IDL campaign. “Our future is light. Play your part” promotes the importance of light-based technologies and interesting careers in optics and photonics, while raising awareness of the annual IDL celebration on 16 May. From technologies that improve vision and power smartphones to those that provide tools to study Earth and Space, from healthcare to communications at the speed of light, photonics is the key enabling technology of a brighter future.
The video, its look and feel inspired by the 2010 science-fiction thriller Inception, features Dawn, an optical-engineer action hero, who is busy saving the world with light-based technologies such as prisms, solar panels, spectral imaging, lasers, and lidar. The video also issues a lively invitation to real-life future scientists, technicians, engineers, and industry leaders: consider a career in photonics.
In conjunction with the video’s release, the related website includes an overview of the technologies mentioned in the film; depictions of professionals working in the field of optics and photonics, from optical engineers and laser technicians to academic researchers; and a selection of downloadable resources for education and careers.
“Many of the devices we use every day are comprised of light-based technologies made possible by the optics and photonics community,” said Optica CEO Elizabeth Rogan. “On the International Day of Light, we celebrate these contributions from our community and hope this celebration inspires others – particularly students – to study and work in light science and technology.”
“The International Day of Light is the perfect time to highlight the many varied and exciting career opportunities in optics and photonics,” noted SPIE CEO Kent Rochford. “Light-based technologies are providing much-needed solutions to some of our biggest global challenges and will continue to do so. This is a terrific time to be considering a career in the industry and we hope this year’s IDL campaign will reach and inspire future scientists, engineers, and technicians.”
"Each International Day of Light, we celebrate the long and rich history of optics and photonics that has brought so much to our everyday lives," said IEEE Photonics Society Executive Director Doug Razzano. "By continuing to advance light science and make known to the world the importance of the technologies derived from it, we will help to grow and support this vibrant technical community."
About the International Day of Light
The International Day of Light (IDL), celebrated annually on 16 May, is a global initiative highlighting the central role that light and light-based technologies play across science, culture, education, and sustainable development, in areas as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. The 16 May date honors the anniversary of the first successful demonstration of a laser by physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman in 1960; the broad theme of light allows many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrate how science, technology, and art, can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality, and peace. lightday.org.
About IEEE Photonics Society
The IEEE Photonics Society is the professional home for a global network of scientists, engineers and allied professionals who represent the laser, optoelectronics, and photonics community. As a Technical Society of the IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, the IEEE Photonics Society inspires community through highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. www.photonicssociety.org.
About Optica
Optica (formerly OSA), Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica’s renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement. Learn more at optica.org.
About SPIE
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, brings engineers, scientists, students, and business professionals together to advance light-based science and technology. The Society, founded in 1955, connects and engages with our global constituency through industry-leading conferences and exhibitions; publications of conference proceedings, books, and journals in the SPIE Digital Library; and career-building opportunities. Over the past five years, SPIE has contributed more than $22 million to the international optics community through our advocacy and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development. www.spie.org.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220516005150/en/
Contact information
Daneet Steffens
Public Relations Manager
daneets@spie.org
+1 360 685 5478
@SPIEtweets
Ashley Collier
Corporate Communications Manager
ACollier@optica.org
+1 202 416 1419
@OpticaWorldwide
Kristen Mahan
Marketing Manager
k.mahan@ieee.org
+1 732 562 6694
@IEEEPhotonics
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Align Partners Issues Third Public Shareholder Letter and Submits Formal Shareholder Proposals to Coway14.2.2026 13:31:00 EET | Press release
Align Partners Capital Management Inc. (“Align Partners”), a shareholder of Coway Co., Ltd. (“Coway” or the “Company”), has submitted formal shareholder proposals for the Company’s upcoming 37th Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) and issued its third public shareholder letter to Coway’s Board of Directors. Coway is South Korea’s leading home appliance rental platform, supported by a strong global brand and sales network. Since Netmarble became the largest shareholder in 2020, Coway has delivered steady operating growth, with revenue and operating profit increasing at compound annual rates of 8.9% and 7.7%, respectively, reaching KRW 5.0 trillion in revenue and KRW 878.7 billion in operating profit in 2025. However, Coway’s share price remains materially undervalued, declining 16% from 2019 levels as of February 6, 2026, despite a 155% increase in the KOSPI 200 index over the same period. Over this period, valuation multiples have also compressed significantly, with NTM PER declining from 1
HM King Mohammed VI Presides Over the Launch Ceremony of the Aircraft Landing Gear Production Plant Project, Representing an Investment of €280 million by the Safran Group in Morocco13.2.2026 22:10:00 EET | Press release
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, chaired on Friday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca the presentation and launch ceremony of the project to build a landing gear production factory for Safran in Nouaceur, a project that reinforces Morocco as a destination of choice and a true integrated industrial actor at the heart of the global economy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260213269786/en/ His Majesty King Mohammed VI, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, chaired on Friday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca the presentation and launch ceremony of the project to build a landing gear production factory for Safran in Nouaceur Considered one of the largest manufacturing centres in the world for Safran Landing Systems, the plant will represent an investment of more than EUR 280 million, create 500 jobs, and operate on 100% decarbonised energ
Sultan bin Ahmed visits Huawei R&D Centre and SMG in China13.2.2026 19:52:00 EET | Press release
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, visited the Huawei Research and Development Centre and Shanghai Media Group (SMG) in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260213682693/en/ Sultan bin Ahmed visits Huawei R&D Centre and SMG in China (Photo: AETOSWire) His Highness toured Huawei Village, which spans 2.2 million square metres and comprises over 100 buildings and laboratories, employing more than 30,000 staff. He observed the master plan of the village and its key facilities that support the company’s business strategy and product development. He also reviewed the specifications of the buildings, constructed to the highest standards, and the diverse services provided to employees, including restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and rest areas. The center also offers easy access via train
Volue Welcomes TA Associates as New Strategic Investor13.2.2026 12:15:00 EET | Press release
Volue, a global leader in electrification and energy technology, today announced that TA Associates (“TA”), a leading global private equity firm, has joined as a new strategic investor alongside Advent International (“Advent”), Generation Investment Management (“Generation”) and Arendals Fossekompani. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260213436945/en/ Over the past 18 months, Volue has undergone a strategic transformation to sharpen its focus on the energy sector. During this period, Volue divested non-core activities and invested in targeted R&D innovation and strategic acquisitions to further position Volue as a leading provider of integrated technology solutions for power trading and generation, grid optimization, and energy market intelligence. Operating at the center of one of the most mission-critical markets of our time, Volue provides technology that enables utilities, grid operators, traders, and energy
ABB strengthens electrical engineering advisory capabilities in Europe with Premium Power acquisition13.2.2026 11:30:00 EET | Press release
ABB today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Premium Power, a leading electrical engineering consultancy headquartered near Dublin, Ireland. For more than two decades, Premium Power has established its reputation as a trusted advisor to large customers, particularly in data centers, pharmaceutical manufacturing and other mission-critical sectors where electrical resilience, uptime and regulatory compliance are essential. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260213161407/en/ Paula O'Neill, Managing Director, Premium Power (L) and Owen Flood, Local Division Manager, ABB Electrification Service (R) As demand for electrification accelerates and power systems become more complex due to digitalization, renewable integration and grid constraints, customers increasingly require specialist advisory suppo
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom