The event will present the concept of light from a transdisciplinary perspective, highlighting its multiple applications and symbols in science, education, space and culture as a vector of sustainable development in 21st century society. It will promote scientific and cultural Romanian values, engaging in a creative and fruitful conversation with similar European and universal values. It will highlight the important role of light for many aspects of human life and promote a transdisciplinary approach to the concept of light.

The conference will consist of an International Congress of plenary talks and presentations in parallel sessions on Basic and Engineering Sciences, Space, Society, Sustainability, Biodiversity, Education, Culture. There will be 2 special events. The first, the Scientix National Conference - The community for science education in Europe, will host guest presentations about science education in Romania, demonstrative workshops for teachers, presentations of educational projects and their results, debates.  LIGHTtalks – Careers in Photonics, an event within the EU LIGHT2015 project, will promote photonics and its applications and to present career opportunities within this area to the interested public; it targets students and young researchers.

Satellite events will include an Art Exhibition: the Art Science Association will present the exhibition “Light Fields”, a collection of abstract paintings by Diana Mavi, heralding a new interdisciplinary approach: physics and art; “Light from books”: presentation of new books and a book fair; and, “Sound and color” – a music and light show. 

Expected participants include representatives of important international organizations (UNESCO, European Physical Society, etc.), numerous scientists, artists, opinion leaders from all over the world, in particular South-East Europe. Marius-Ioan Piso, President of the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA) and Dumitru Dorin Prunariu, the first Romanian cosmonaut, ROSA Honorary President and president of the European branch of the Association of Space Explorers - ASE Europe, as well as other important personalities, will deliver speeches.

The conference is organised by the National Institute for Materials Physics (INCDFM) and the UNESCO Cat. 2 International Centre for Training and Research in Physics, Magurele, the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR), the University of Craiova, the University of Bucharest, the National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INCDFLPR), the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA), the Institute of Space Science (ISS), the Parliament Commission for UNESCO, Horia Hulubei Foundation, UNESCO Chair and the Romanian Permanent Delegation to UNESCO. Partners of the event are: UNESCO, the European Physical Society (EPS), the Romanian Physical Society, the Order of Architects from Romania (OAR), the National University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest (UNATC) and the Romanian Association of Theatre Artists (UNITER).

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On 20 December 2013, the UN General Assembly’s 68th Session proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015), recognising the importance of global awareness about how light-based technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture and health.

IYL 2015 programmes 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 1,000 years ago to discoveries in optical communications that power the Internet today. The event is endorsed by a number of international scientific unions and the International Council of Science and has more than 100 partners from more than 85 countries

Website: http://iyl2015.infim.ro/