Aligarh: The Department of Physics, Aligarh Muslim University, celebrated the International Day of Light (IDL), with an intellectually stimulating event held in the department’s Conference Hall. Organised under the aegis of UNESCO, the programme reflected the university’s steadfast commitment to scientific advancement and fostering public engagement in science and technology.
The International Day of Light, observed globally on May 16, commemorates the first successful operation of the laser by physicist Theodore Maiman in 1960. This initiative underscores the transformative role of light and light-based technologies in science, education, culture, sustainable development, and peace.
Prof. Anisul Ain Usmani, Chairman of the Department, delivered the welcome address and highlighted the department’s enduring legacy in scientific education and innovation.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Gautam Singh from the Amity Institute of Applied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, spoke on the theme “Liquid Crystals with Light: Academia to Industry.” He explored the intersection of light technologies and liquid crystal materials, demonstrating their journey from fundamental science to industrial applications. He emphasised, “Light is not merely a phenomenon to observe – it is a language that connects nature, innovation, and human advancement across disciplines.”
Prof. Sartaj Tabassum, Dean, Faculty of Science, commended the department’s continued efforts in promoting scientific awareness, while Prof. B.P. Singh, senior-most faculty member of the department, elaborated on the intrinsic connection between light and energy and underlined its wave-particle duality and its foundational role in physics.
Dr. Jai Prakash, a member of the Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS), conducted the programme and delivered an insightful overview of the objectives and global relevance of the day.
The programme aligned with UNESCO’s vision of promoting inclusive, knowledge-based, and sustainable societies, demonstrating once again that science has the power to illuminate minds and inspire generations.
