Chitra RanganPhysics professor Chitra Rangan will represent Canada at the inaugural celebration of the International Day of Light, May 16 in Paris, France.

Physics professor to shed light on international celebration

Physics professor Chitra Rangan will represent Canada at the inaugural celebration of the International Day of Light (IDL), May 16 at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France.

The global initiative provides an annual appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development.

UNESCO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, has chosen May 16 as the day each year that the worldwide community will participate in activities demonstrating how science, technology, art, and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO.

“I was the Canadian co-ordinator for the International Year of Light in 2015, and now that the UN has created an annual day to celebrate light, it is a true honour to represent Canada for this inaugural celebration,” says Dr. Rangan.

The International Day of Light will reach an audience of millions of scientists, industry leaders and members of the public worldwide with a day of Nobel laureate lectures, art exhibits and more.

“We are proud to have Dr. Rangan represent UWindsor at this important global event and it sets us up for impressive future research partnerships,” says Chris Houser, dean of science.

Rangan is the chair of the steering committee for IDL-Canada and her trip is sponsored by the University of Windsor's Faculty of Science and the Office of the Vice-President for Research and Innovation.

May 16 is the anniversary of the first successful operation of a laser in 1960. Hundreds of events around the world will be held by local organizers. UWindsor’s Department of Physics will host a Science on Tap: Light and Libations event on May 24 at the Walkerville Brewery.


Sara Elliott

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