UNESCO is organizing a global online webinar to celebrate the International Day of Light 2026 under the theme:
“Light, Science and Society: Advancing Innovation and Impact”
The webinar will take place online via Zoom on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, from 14:00 to 15:30 CET (Paris time), bringing together international experts, policymakers, researchers, and scientific institutions to explore the transformative role of light-based technologies in advancing science, innovation, and international cooperation.
The International Day of Light, proclaimed by UNESCO, highlights the essential contribution of light and light-based technologies to sustainable development, scientific discovery, and socio-economic progress worldwide.
This year’s webinar will focus particularly on advanced light sources, including synchrotron facilities, and their growing role in supporting cutting-edge research across fields such as health, agriculture, environmental science, energy, and materials research.
The event also aims to address global disparities in access to scientific infrastructures and to encourage stronger international collaboration, capacity-building, and inclusive participation in global scientific ecosystems. UNESCO’s ongoing efforts in this area include initiatives such as the “Empowering Africa through Synchrotron Science” Toolkit and recent high-level dialogues on science diplomacy and capacity development.
Webinar Objectives
The webinar seeks to:
- Highlight the role of advanced light sources in scientific research and innovation;
- Share international experiences on the scientific and socio-economic impact of light-based infrastructures;
- Foster dialogue between scientific and policy communities;
- Encourage knowledge exchange and collaborative frameworks;
- Promote inclusive participation in global scientific ecosystems.
Distinguished Speakers and Panelists
The webinar will feature keynote remarks by:
- Gianluigi Botton, CEO of Diamond Light Source
as well as an international panel discussion moderated by Amal Kasry, Chief of Section for Basic Sciences, Research, Innovation and Engineering at UNESCO.
Panelists include representatives from:
- African Union Development Agency
- African Light Source Foundation
- SOLARIS
- SESAME Synchrotron
- Landmark University
Registration
Participants are invited to register online through the official webinar registration link:
UNESCO encourages institutions, researchers, students, and science stakeholders to widely share the invitation within their networks and participate in this important global dialogue on the future of light-based science and innovation.