International Day of Light 2024: All you need to know about the date, origin, and significance

As the lightday.org website rightly asserts, “The laser is a perfect example of how a scientific discovery can yield revolutionary benefits to society in communications, healthcare, and many other fields.” So, with the day just around the corner, here is all you need to know.

International Day of Light 2024: Date and Origin

May 16th is annually observed as International Day of Light, which commemorates the first successful operation of the laser by physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman in 1960. This year, it falls on a Thursday, May 16, under the theme of Light in Our Lives, to let the light guide us the way forward.

However, the origin of the International Day of Light can be traced back to 2015, when the UN observed the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015) to raise awareness of the achievements of light science and its applications worldwide.

Following the success of IYL 2015, the UNESCO Executive Board adopted a resolution that supported the notion of an International Day of Light on September 19, 2016. The first-ever IDL was held on May 16, 2018.

International Day of Light 2024: Significance and Celebrations

The purpose of this day is to encourage scientific collaboration and explore the possibilities of light-based technologies to promote peace and sustainable development.

The celebration offers various sectors of society around the world the opportunity to engage in activities that showcase how science, technology, art, and culture can contribute to achieving the goals of UNESCO. These goals include establishing the groundwork for peaceful societies.

In essence, the International Day of Light provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the essential role that light plays in our lives while highlighting its significance in shaping our world and inspiring future innovations.