Society of Light and Lighting announce an online Symposium dedicated to the application of light for human health

The Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) is pleased to announce that the 2020 Lighting Research and Technology Symposium: Applying Light for Human Health will be taking place online from 2 – 6 November. The objective of this symposium is to set out where and how lighting can confidently be applied to enhance human health.

For the first time, this event will be taking place online, over five successive days, each day consisting of a 90 minute session, including live Q&A discussion. The Society has curated an international programme designed to address the key topics within the light and health conversation. Speakers include, Russell Foster CBE, FRS FMedSci, Professor of Circadian Neuroscience and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford; Dr Mark Rea from the Lighting Research Centre, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Dr Mariana Figueiro from Rutgers Institute for Health; Florence Lam, Arup Fellow and Global Lighting Design Leader; Dr Arnold Wilkins, Emeritus Professor at the University of Essex; Arne Lowden, sleep and stress research, Stockholm University; and many more.

Following the discovery of the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell in the human retina, a lot of effort has been expended by researchers on exploring the non-visual effects of light. While this effort has resulted in an increase in understanding by researchers it has also led to several claims of lighting systems that will enhance human health.

This, in turn, has caused anxiety amongst lighting designers and manufacturers. Their concern is that the claimed benefits may not be evident in practice, or worse, they may be detrimental to human health. Alternatively, if true, hesitation to embrace new applications may see them being left behind.

The SLL Lighting Research & Technology Symposia aim to address topics of relevance to the lighting profession and related disciplines, showcasing papers that have appeared within Lighting Research & Technology (LR&T) Journal. Instrumental in the planning for the 2020 Symposium has been former LR&T Editor in Chief, Dr Peter Boyce, who commented, “The aim of this symposium is to transfer knowledge from the laboratory to the field. The hope is that this will enable lighting to safely and successfully expand its contribution to human health”

Registration is available for individual days or for the entire week via www.sll.org.uk.

Members of the SLL and the IES will be able to book for a discounted rate, along with a reduced rate for students. Sessions will take place from 13:00-14:30 every day from 2 – 6 November 2020, with presentations to be followed by live Q&A discussions each day.

This event has been organised by Society of Light and Lighting, led the Lighting Research & Technology Editorial Board, with support from SAGE Publishing and the Bartlett Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, UCL. If you have any questions or if you would like any more information, please contact
sll@cibse.org.