Academia Mexicana de Ciencias

About the IYL2015

What is the International Year of Light?
The International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies (IYL 2015) is a global initiative adopted by the United Nations to raise awareness of how optical technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to worldwide challenges in areas such as energy, education, communications, health, and sustainability.

Who is running the International Year of Light?
The UN resolution A/RES/68/221 designates UNESCO as the lead agency in cooperation with a consortium of hundreds of worldwide partners and the UNESCO International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP).

How will it achieve its goals?
IYL 2015 programs will promote improved public and political understanding of the central role of light in the modern world while also celebrating noteworthy anniversaries in 2015—from the first studies of optics 1000 years ago to discoveries in optical communications that power the Internet today.

When will events begin?
The first official event is the Opening Ceremony over 19-20 January 2015 at UNESCO HQ in Paris. Other events will take place all year, starting on New Year’s eve 2014!

Where can I find information?
Please browse www.light2015.org for information on national contacts, events, resources, videos and more!

Get Involved!
To get involved please contact the Global Secretariat located at ICTP, the UNESCO Category I Centre in Trieste, Italy (Secretariat: light2015@ictp.it) or the International Basic Sciences Programme at UNESCO HQ in Paris, France (Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga: jj.ngome-abiaga@unesco.org)

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Close ceremony
The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 (IYL 2015) will be brought to an official close with a ceremony to be held over three days from 4-6 February 2016 in the beautiful city of Mérida, Mexico, which is close to the Mayan Archaeological Site of Chichen Itza and one of the earliest astronomical observatories El Caracol. This final event of the IYL 2015 global celebration will be attended by the key figures behind the international year, including academics, international diplomats and decision-makers, CEOs, and science and industry leaders from across the globe.