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IOP Publishing celebrates the International Year of Light 2015

30 Jan 2015 by iopp

This year many scientific societies, educational institutions and other organisations are coming together to celebrate the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 (IYL 2015).

This global initiative, which emerged from the international physics community and was formally approved by the United Nations in December 2013, is designed to raise awareness of the importance of light and optical technologies in our lives, for our futures, and for the development of society.

Two of IOP Publishing's (IOP) publications, Physics World magazine and Journal of Optics, are official media partners of the IYL 2015.

Through partnering with the IYL 2015, IOP hopes to increase our understanding of the science and applications of light. It will be celebrating the IYL 2015 at many conferences this year, and is delighted to be sharing the following free-to-read content:

Physics World, one of the world’s top science magazines, has selected 10 of the best-ever articles about the science and applications of light, to celebrate the IYL 2015. Available through its new digital-magazine technology online and through the Physics World app, the edition includes everything from the physics of rainbows and “smart” holograms to a feature by Shuji Nakamura, who shared the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics, about how he developed efficient blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). There is also an intriguing tale about Ibn-al-Haytham, the Egyptian scholar who revolutionized our ideas of optics a thousand years ago, and whose efforts are one of the anniversaries being honoured by the IYL 2015.

This collection contains papers that highlight some of the themes promoted by the IYL 2015: the science of light; light technology; light in nature; and light and culture. The collection will continue to evolve throughout 2015, with more articles appearing on the themes covered by the IYL 2015.

In recognition of Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura becoming the latest Nobel Prize laureates, IOP has put together a collection of papers that are free-to-read until the end of 2015.

 How are you celebrating the IYL 2015? Tell us on Twitter: @IOPPublishing.

 

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