The International Day of Light is a global initiative, supported by UNESCO,  marked with a whole series of events across the world, many in the UK, from the Lighting Design Awards to many events open to the public that demonstrates how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality, and peace

The International Day of Light provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy.  Held on May 16th every year, the day marks the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman.