Age of Light Innovations

This event is part of the Luna Pro campaign, a six-month programme of events, interviews and cross-sector debates to build the business case for healthy lighting. This has been made possible by a team of six international manufacturer sponsors and a global network of scientists, regulators, industry bodies and media specialists. We are building on a social media campaign earlier in the year to raise awareness among teens of the impact of lighting on their health and well-being. These ‘Tik Tok’ style videos reached 2.5 million young people around the world with a click-through rate of up to 230% among German students.

The young people pointed out that they don’t buy the lights. It became clear that around 80% of the professionals who buy lighting for our homes and hospitals, schools and offices have no formal training. So I set out with this brilliant team to find successful business people who had invested in better-quality lighting as a sound financial decision. And it was surprisingly hard to find.

But the people I did find were passionate advocates. They were all clear that spending a bit more was good for their people, good for profit and good for the planet.

So why is it so hard to find people who are really willing to talk about how better-quality lighting stacks up in commercial terms - and then put their money on the line?

It’s a huge tanker to turn around: a fragmented sector with split incentives, a lack of transparency and a sector built on short term results to shift boxes rather than lighting solutions that integrate daylight and longer-term whole life costing.

I'm under no illusions. But the only way to do that is build bridges outside the lighting sector - thanks to people like our amazing panel today who are not only outstanding innovators, thinkers and leaders in their own fields, but also are starting to make a real difference to the way we buy lighting.

Dr Belal Aboushi is a senior associate lighting research engineer at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

In this conversation, Belal shares some of his research into the role of light in creating a happy, healthy and productive workplace.

He explains how four key dimensions of lighting combine to improve sleep duration and quality - intensity, spectral distribution, orientation and dynamic changes over time. He also describes research that explores the potential of artificial lighting to replicate some of these qualities - with promising results.

If you want to reach out to Belal, see his contact information here. 

Stuart Peirson is Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institution (SCNi). He completed a PhD in Neuroscience on visual pigments and circadian biology at University College London in 2001. During his subsequent work at Imperial College, he contributed to the identification of the melanopsin pRGC system in humans as well as the characterisation of melanopsin signalling pathways. He was appointed as a Lecturer at Imperial College in 2005 before moving to the University of Oxford in 2006. His work has continued to focus upon characterising the signalling pathways mediating the effects of light on physiology and behaviour, with the aim of understanding mechanisms underlying sleep and circadian rhythm disruption.

Belal Abboushi is a Senior Associate Lighting Research Engineer at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Belal is involved in several projects examining lighting uniformity, discomfort glare, daylight integration, and effects on occupant’s comfort and well-being. Belal earned a PhD in Architecture from the University of Oregon where he was involved in studies investigating indoor environmental quality in buildings at the High-Performance Environments lab. He presented his research in various venues including IES Annual Conferences, LightFair, and Greenbuild.

The Norwich Biosciences Institute is a cluster just outside Norwich of four international centers of excellence in plant science, microbiology, harnessing foo for health and controlling food-related disease: the Earlham Institute, the John Innes Centre, the Sainsbury Laboratory, and Quadrant Institute of Bioscience. Steve recently oversaw the refurbishment of the lighting for two buildings in the business park.

Interview with

In this conversation, Lawrence explains how he combines access to a range of manufacturer - and a pragmatic approach - to help his clients achieve more sustainable, affordable - and high-quality- lighting solutions in a range of sectors from educational to industrial, large and small, new build and retrofit projects.

Interview with Rebecca Weir, Creative Director of Light IQ and Iain Johnson CEO of Rigby and Rigby, 24 August 2021

Originally an electrical engineer Jim Collin went back to school to study lighting design when he realized that his metric toolbox was not enough to create good spaces for people. Following his degree Jim has spent the past 20 years enlightening people in the duality of light as a combination of function and aesthetics. After a multiple award-winning career in lighting design, ending as the international head of Light Bureau, Jim today drives his own business as an internationally hired speaker and lecturer in lighting combined with a partnership at the lighting supply company, Annell Ljus + Form.

Jim has throughout his career strived to raise general awareness of the great potential in proper handling of the lighting matter. By creating good lighting for people, enormous energy savings can be made while lowering the total cost of the lighting installation. A true win-win-win situation

Mark is an award winning international lighting designer who leads the lighting profession across BDP architects.

He has ove35 years’ experience and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). After designing over 100 shows, he became an associate at MBLD in 1998 and joined BDP in 2003. Mark believes that collaboration is essential for great design and has recruited a vibrant team from varied backgrounds, including product designers, engineers, theatre designers and architects, effectively forging them into a winning force in international lighting design.

Human interaction with architecture through the medium of light is central to his philosophy and practice. His projects are varied, covering commercial, public realm, leisure, retail, art and art galleries, transport and daylight design.

Mark has won many international awards including an Award of Merit for Princesshay, Exeter, and the IALD Award of Excellence for Finsbury Avenue Square, London. Mark was named Lighting Designer of the Year at the Lighting Design Awards in 2014 and was honoured with a Special Recognition Award from the Institute of Lighting Professionals in 2016.

Mark was Vice President, Architectural for the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) and its first Chartered Lighting Designer. He has authored the PLDA ethics policy and is one of the founders of the Joined Up Lighting initiative hosting regular seminars for industry professionals. He co-authored the BCO Guide for Office Lighting and is the founder of the Green Light Alliance, a body devoted to promoting the circular economy in lighting.

In this conversation, Mark discusses the refit of the BDP office in Central London, his views on design and his work with the Green Light Alliance.