CIE Project: "Understanding Science - Understanding Light"

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About the Project

The CIE is pleased to announce the approval of the CIE project, “Understanding Science - Understanding Light” funded by the Vienna Business Agency. Officially running from 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2026, this one-and-a-half-year initiative will spotlight two key topics: “Light Pollution” and “Light and Health”, fostering public understanding of the impact of light on our lives. These initiatives are closely tied to the CIE 2025 Midterm Meeting, taking place in Vienna, and aim to make the CIE’s work more accessible to a broader audience. The project will simplify complex topics within the diverse field of light and lighting, including the pressing issue of light pollution and the emerging connection between light and health. Through a series of engaging events, it will foster greater public understanding of these issues and their multifaceted impacts.

The project’s events will be held either in German or English, with a special focus on engaging local audiences in Vienna, Austria. Updates with dates, locations, and event details will be published on this page as they become available. People in Austria should look forward to these events, which will offer great opportunities for learning and engagement.

Aim of the Project

• Communicate relevant, up-to-date research knowledge and make the role of science and the importance of scientifically validated knowledge clearly recognizable for the individual through various events, especially on the two focal points of light pollution and light & health.
• An understanding of the role of scientific knowledge in the search for practical solutions should be promoted, thereby counteracting a simplistic understanding of science (e.g. when data is confused with interpretations or solutions).
• Help to ensure that as many people as possible are interested in science and scientific/technical careers in the long term. The attractive topics can show in concrete terms how degree courses (e.g. physics, electrical engineering) can lead to extremely interesting careers.
• Strengthen the networks between research and practice (society/industry/new talent) in Vienna/Austria in order to sustainably promote the anchoring and impact of the CIE community.

Project Partners

The CIE is proud to collaborate with the following partners:

Main Implementation Partner: 

• VHS Wien (Volkshochschule), supporting venue arrangements and communications

Community Partner: 

• CIE National Committee Austria / Lichttechnische Gesellschaft (LTG) Österreich

Lead Partners on Light Pollution:

• Tyrol Competence Centre on Light Pollution and Dark Skies (The Plight with Light) - an initiative of the Tyrolean Environmental Ombudsoffice (Tiroler Umweltanwaltschaft)
• Kuffner Observatory
• MA 33 Wien Leuchtet (City of Vienna Lighting Department)

Lead Partners on Light and Health:

• Prof. Manuel Spitschan, TU Munich (Chronobiology and Health) & Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics
• Bartenbach Research – The Lighting Innovators

Project Events