International Day of Light: May 16th

This year its also 60 years since we saw the first photons from a laser!

As a laser loving manufacturer we will of course celebrate, even if only virtually with our ‘I love lasers’ video contribution. Watch our submission, meet some of our staff and hear why they love lasers!

This is our submission entry 1

(1 min 11 sec)

Here is our submission entry 2

(1 min 18 sec)

Read more about all the fun activities thats happening all of the world!

The major goals of the International Day of Light are:

  • Improve the public understanding of how light and light-based technologies touch the daily lives of everybody and are central to the future development of the global society.
  • Build worldwide educational capacity through activities targeted on science for young people, addressing issues of gender balance, and focusing especially on developing countries and emerging economies.
  • Highlight and explain the intimate link between light and art and culture, enhancing the role of optical technology to preserve cultural heritage.
  • Enhance international cooperation by acting as a central information resource for activities coordinated by learned societies, NGOs, government agencies, educational establishments, industry, and other partners.
  • Emphasise the importance of basic research in the fundamental science of light, the need for investment in light-based technology to develop new applications, and the global necessity to promote careers in science and engineering in these fields.
  • Promote the importance of lighting technology and the need for access to light and energy infrastructure in sustainable development, and for improving quality of life in the developing world.
  • Raise awareness that technologies and design can play an important role in the achievement of greater energy efficiency, by limiting energy waste, and in the reduction of light pollution, which is key to the preservation of dark skyes.

Some history on the laser

May 16 in 1960, Theodore Harold Maiman demonstrated the first fully functional Ruby Laser. Maiman received several highest international awards and was nominated three times for the Nobel Prize. In 2002 Dr. Maiman received an Honorary Doctorate from Simon Fraser University. In 2001 he joined the SFU School of Engineering Science as an Adjunct Professor. Dr. Maiman died in 2007 but his legacy continues growing.

At Cobolt, a part of HÜBNER Photonics, we make high performance diode pumped and diode lasers. After 20 years of making lasers, we still love lasers!