CIE at the Shanghai International Light Festival
Shanghai recently inaugurated its first-ever International Light Festival, titled "Travel in Light." The festival, which commenced on September 19, 2024, promises a month-long celebration of urban light and cultural art, running until October 18, 2024. The Opening Ceremony on September 19 marked a momentous occasion, with a distinguished delegation from the CIE and representatives from LUCI (Lighting Urban Community International) joining the city's Major and other officials. As the two leading international organisations guiding the festival, CIE and LUCI delivered welcoming speeches, underscoring the importance of quality lighting in urban spaces. Dr. Jennifer Veitch, CIE President, extended a warm online welcome message to mark the occasion.
CIE's on-site delegation, which included Dr. Peter Blattner (Past President), Dr. Diana Wernisch(Secretary General), Prof. Sermin Onaygil (Board Member and representative of the Division 4 Management Team), Prof. Luoxi Hao (Vice-President Education) met with representatives of the Shanghai Municipality. The municipal delegation included Deng Jianpeng (Director of the Shanghai Landscaping & City Appearance Administrative Bureau and head of the festival's Organising committee), Wang Hui (Director of the Landscape Management Department, Shanghai Landscaping & City Appearance Administrative Bureau), and Miao Jun (Member of the Organising Committee of the Shanghai International Light Festival, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Landscaping & City Appearance Administrative Bureau).
A special mention goes to Diana del Negro, Chair of the CIE TC 4-59: Guide for Lighting Urban Elements, who played a significant role as a member of the jury responsible for evaluating the artistic contributions to the festival. Her efforts were instrumental in ensuring the artistic integrity and high standards of the selected installations.
Shanghai exemplifies the vital role of light art and urban lighting plans in city and community development, as evidenced by the high importance the city assigns to its light festival, which integrates research, industry, art and design, and public engagement into a broader approach to urban development.
Shanghai International Light Festival Expert Seminar
Prof. Sermin Onaygil, a Governing Board member of CIE and a Professor at the Institute of Energy at Istanbul Technical University, delivered a keynote presentation on “Urban Lighting in CIE Research Strategy in line with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals” at an expert seminar that was part of the festival’s inauguration. Her research areas include energy planning, energy management, intelligent building systems, lighting techniques and control systems, road and tunnel lighting systems, and LED technologies.
Additionally, Prof. Luoxi Hao, CIE Vice-President Education and a Tenured Professor at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University, delivered an introductory talk on “Urban Lighting in China: Towards Health, Livability, and Sustainability.” Prof. Hao also shared a wide variety of examples from across China, emphasising the diverse needs of different communities and regions.
The discussions covered key aspects of lighting standards, regulations, and sustainable urban lighting practices. Particular emphasis was placed on the sustainability of high-quality lighting festivals, with exchanges on energy consumption, the avoidance of light pollution, and the vital role standards play in achieving effective lighting solutions.
CIE Delegation Meets with CIES (NC CHINA)
As part of their visit to China, the CIE delegation held a productive meeting with the China Illuminating Engineering Society (CIES), the National Committee (NC) of CIE in China. CIES, with a membership of over 5,000 individuals and extensive industry connections, is a highly active National Committee within the CIE, contributing significantly to the global lighting community. CIES has appointed expert delegates to all six CIE Divisions and has many experts working on the CIE’s Governing Board, in the Division Management Teams, and as TC Chairs and experts. The meeting marked the official start of preparations for the upcoming CIE Session in 2027, which will be hosted in Nanjing, China. The discussions were led by CIES President Zhenglei Liu and Vice Presidents Prof. Jiangen Pan and Prof. Luoxi Hao, with the CIE delegation represented by Dr. Peter Blattner, Prof. Sermin Onaygil, and Dr. Diana Wernisch. They also discussed various issues related to the aims and current developments of CIES and CIE.
CIE Delegation Visits EverFine
During a recent visit to China, Dr. Peter Blattner and Dr. Diana Wernisch, had the pleasure of visiting EverFine in Hangzhou, one of CIE’s most dedicated and long-term Supportive Members. EverFine is the only stock-listed company whose primary business focuses on the LED and lighting measurement instruments.
Dr. Blattner and Dr. Wernisch were warmly welcomed by Prof. Jiangen Pan, Founder and CTO of EverFine, who is also an active member of CIE Division 2 delegation for China, along with several members of his research team. The visit included a tour of EverFine’s impressive facilities, including their light measurement laboratory and product exhibition. The delegation also participated in a meeting where EverFine’s ongoing research projects were presented. One of the highlights of the discussions was the work of Qian (Cherry) Li, a senior research and technical expert of the CIE Division 2 Management Team and Chair of TC 2-89: Measurement of Temporal Light Modulation of Light Sources and Lighting Systems. This visit reaffirms the strong relationship between CIE and EverFine, fostering continued collaboration in advancing research and innovation in the field of light and lighting.
