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On 16 May 2018, students and researchers from VUB B-PHOT Photonics Research at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, have presented the Science Show Photonics at the first “International Day of Light” (#IDL18) at Unesco headquarters in Paris.


UNESCO plans to make the event an annual one, with the intention of raising global visibility for the central role that light and photonics play in the lives of citizens everywhere in science, technology, culture, education, and sustainable development.

VUB B-PHOT Science Show Photonics

Every year, VUB B-PHOT Brussels Photonics welcomes more than1300 students from secondary schools to the Photonics Science Show at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel for a lively and interactive show, where young minds dive into the world of photons.

In the 30 minute version of the Science Show Photonics at the International Day of Light, young researchers Urszula Nawrot , Sidney Goossens and Koen Vanmol from B-PHOT research at Vrije Universiteit Brussel have unravelled and explained the magic of optical fibres and their many uses and applications.

Vibrant and entertaining on-stage presentations are accompanied by an accessible educational narrative that explains the unique properties of light and how photonics is applied in medicine, aviation, robotics, telecommunication, and smart structures.

By performing this science show on stage at the IDL 2018 inauguration, B-PHOT wants to motivate all scientists and engineers to continue to invest in outreach activities and encourage young people to choose to study and work in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects and more specifically for photonics, because there is a growing need for passionate scientists and engineers.