The "International Day of Light" is a worldwide UNESCO initiative that aims to focus on the appreciation of light and its role in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development.
Every year on May 16, the anniversary of the first successful use of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman, attention is focused on research and science related to light and light-based technologies.
This day is a call to strengthen scientific cooperation and use its potential to promote peace and sustainable development.
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Wiebke Loseries
Universität Rostock
Albert-Einstein-Str. 23
18059 Rostock
Mail: wiebke.loseriesuni-rostockde
Phone.: +49 (0) 381 498-6755
Together, scientists and artists shed light on different disciplines in our society.
To celebrate the International Day of Light 2025, we partnered with LiWu Rostock to host a special event. The evening began with a screening of Tracing Lights - Die Magie des Lichts (Regisseuer: Thomas Riedelsheimer), offering inspiring perspectives on the theme of light.
Following the film, our artists and scientists engaged in an open discussion with the audience. The panel explored the many connections between light, physics, and art, fostering a lively exchange on the scientific, creative, and societal dimensions of light.
We would like to sincerely thank LiWu Rostock, all participating artists and scientists, and our audience for an inspiring evening and the engaging discussions.
After a short break, Day of Light entered its next round in 2024. The Institute of Physics has been participating in the initiative since 2018 and, in cooperation with the Rostock Art Association (Kunstverein zu Rostock) and the Rostock School of Art (Kunst.Schule.Rostock), created an even larger beacon of light from our university and its home city of Rostock in 2024.
To continue and intensify the existing processes, a second symposium was held in February 2024, following the first one in 2022, at venues dedicated to science and art in Rostock. As part of this symposium, artists were given the opportunity to work within the research areas and laboratories of the institutes, as well as in the studios and facilities of the Rostock School of Art and the Rostock Art Association. Various meeting formats were organized during the symposium to facilitate direct exchange between scientists and artists. The artists and Eng. Gerd Micheluzzi, M.A., were also given the opportunity to live and work in the gallery spaces of the Rostock Art Association and in the surrounding area of Rostock’s Eastern Old Town throughout the symposium period.
Program flyer for the symposium 05.02.-09.02.2024
The results of this collaboration were presented to the general public on the International Day of Light.
When: May 16, 2024
Where: Institute of Physics, University of Rostock
4:00 p.m., Colloquium
Institute of Physics / Main Lecture Hall
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Alexander Szameit (Managing Director, Institute of Physics, University of Rostock)
Lectures on Art and Science
Artists
Tino Bittner, Lars Heidemann, Marc W1353L
Dr. Gerd Mathias Micheluzzi, Department of Art History, University of Hamburg
6:30 p.m., “Flashing Lights”
Short presentations on light and science
Institute of Physics / Research Building
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Stefan Scheel
In 2022, the focus was once again on the appreciation of light and its role in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development.
The Institute of Physics took part in the Day of Light initiative for the third time after 2018 and 2021 and, together with the Institute of Biosciences, the LiMatI Collaborative Research Center and in cooperation with the KVLAB of the Rostock Art Association, set a strong point of light in our university and its location in Rostock in 2022. To mark the occasion, artistic works by Lars Heidemann, Marc W1353L and Tino Bittner were presented in the institutes on May 16, creating a link between art and science.
In the coming years, this initiative will find a permanent place in the annual schedule of the Institute of Physics and will increasingly seek interdisciplinary approaches in line with the aims of UNESCO at our university.
The Kunstverein zu Rostock took part in this initiative together with the Institute of Physics and the Institute of Biosciences at the University of Rostock.
On this occasion, artistic positions were created by Lars Heidemann, Marc W1353L and the artist group SCHAUM, creating a link between art and science.
The Day of Light represents a starting point for artistic and scientific dialog on the subject of light, which will continue beyond 16 May into a visible process and will be accompanied by the KVLAB of the Kunstverein zu Rostock. In addition to the artistic positions visible in the outdoor area of the Institute of Physics and the Botanical Garden, the contributions will be permanently presented on the website of the Kunstverein zu Rostock.