On 25th September, the Library of Birmingham will play host to Lightfest 2015, a series of events celebrating how light technology plays a part in our lives. The day includes short films curated by the team behind the Flatpack Festival, an installation by artist Chris Plant, and workshops, demonstrations and public lectures led by researchers from Aston University.
The day will be an interactive experience for schools and the general public, with free entry for all. Visitors will be able to explore Birmingham canal with a laser microscope, test their musical skills on a laser harp and measure the thickness of a human hair!
The day’s lecture series will bring together experts from a range of fields, talking about light science and technology from an unparalleled variety of perspectives. Professor Andrew Ellis of the Aston Institute of Photonic Technology will explain how optical fibres connect us all together, while Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock from the BBC’s The Sky at Night programme will showcase five amazing photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Professor Alessandro Farini from the University of Florence will also talk about how our brains interpret light and the indivisible relationship between light and art.
Professor Sergei Turitsyn of Aston University’s Engineering and Applied Science, who is co-organizing the event, said:
“Light science is the foundation for the smartphones in our pockets, the tools of our manufacturing industry and many of the latest medical advancements. Lightfest 2015, part of the UNESCO International Year of Light, is a great opportunity to learn about technology that’s all around us.
“There’s something to enjoy for people of all ages, and plenty to get your hands on with our workshops and demonstrations where you can learn by getting involved. We’d invite everyone to come down to the Library of Birmingham to find out what light science and the Year of Light is all about.”
Lightfest 2015 is being held on Friday 25th September 2015 at the Library of Birmingham. The event is being funded by the European Commission as part of European Researchers’ Night, an event which takes place simultaneously in hundreds of cities across Europe.
For more information, including a full programme of events and booking details for workshops and public lectures, please visit the website: http://www.lightfest.org.uk/