Who knew that chemists would be working on light bulbs. Well, Jakoah and Shruti explain their research into different phosphors to find the most efficient ways to create colors - other than blue. Fifteen years in the business and we learned something new about LED’s: They don’t fade, the phosphor decomposes. Prof. Jakoah Brgoch is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and a Principal Investigator in the Texas Center of Superconductivity. Shruti Hariyani completed her Bachelor’s of Science and is in the process of her Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Houston under the supervision of Professor Jakoah Brgoch. 

Light is a spectrum and our eyes see a thin slice of it. But that doesn’t mean the light outside of our visual perception doesn’t affect us. Dr. Krames and Dr. Berends talk with Michael and Greg about the research they have conducted and the conclusion they have reached on the effects of near-infrared light on human health. To put it bluntly, it’s good stuff, when used in the right dosages. You’re probably going to “see” this technology added to computer screens, webcams, cell phones, TV’s… You’ll be working at your laptop and you’re going to feel healthier and happier!

Dr. Mike Krames has more than 25 years of materials, device, and applications experience, with emphasis on solid-state lighting devices and products, including advancing the performance and color quality of LEDs for general illumination. He is currently president of Arkesso, LLC, a consulting firm in Silicon Valley, and Sr Advisor to Seaborough Research BV in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Dr. Anne Berends has a background in chemistry and a PhD in nanomaterials science. She likes to work in a dynamic and multidisciplinary team and that is exactly what she found in the Life Science program at Seaborough. Translating fundamental scientific insights to products that improve human wellbeing and health, require skills and insights from so many viewing angles that true teamwork is a must.

Come celebrate 300 with us! Okay, it didn’t quite fall on the actual 300th episode, but it doesn’t take away from the achievement. This group of misfits got together with Michael and Greg to talk about how the Get A Grip On Lighting Podcast got started. But they also talk about sustainability and mercury and drivers and… well, it seems there’ll be enough to talk about to make at least another 300 episodes. You already know all these guys - Josh Brown, EVP of Distributor Sales & Marketing at Keystone; Brian Huff, President of Adventure Lighting; Cory Schneider, President of Lighting Unlimited; and Spencer Miles, President of Pacific Lamp. Start thinking about episode 600, guys! 

Nothing can beat real sunlight for an indoor environment. But sometimes, getting daylight into an interior space is difficult or impossible. Benjamin says he’s got the next best thing. Michael and Greg do their best to be skeptical, but Benjamin might have won them over with LIGHTGLASS Simulated Windows & Skylights. Let Get A Grip On Lighting shed some light on the subject for you. Benjamin is a Co-founder of LIGHTGLASS and lightly, a student of biophilic design, and a researcher of light’s impact on human biology and psychology. He works to further understand how we can apply light to improve people’s quality of life, and to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry. As a lifelong musician, Benjamin greatly appreciates the converging creativity and design of architectural products and spaces, and is passionate about improving the human relationship with the built environment. 

Randy Reid is back and he’s here to clear up some confusion with his publication, The Edison Report. Accusations were leveled, mistakes were made and Randy gives his side of the story.

Randy Reid is the editor of designing lighting (dl) magazine. He also publishes and edits the EdisonReport. Reid is president of LumEfficient, a company focused on industrial and hazardous lighting, and he also serves as the Executive Director of the National Lighting Bureau (NLB). Reid is a past president of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

Come on… you know you love it when Michael gets worked up! In this new short-form Get A Grip On Lighting podcast episode - he beefs to Greg about misguided incentive programs, purple lights, the state of rebate programs, and the leaderless lighting industry… heads need to come out of the sand and get their sh*t together.

Winner of the L-Prize, Don Peifer lets us in on some of his designs and the principles that guide him in his design concepts. He’s adamant that some fixtures need to be made out of paper. We’re sure he’ll do it and probably win another L-Prize in the process.

Don Peifer is an entrepreneur, lighting product designer, and sustainability expert.  He received his Masters of Architectural Sciences in Lighting from the Lighting Research Center at RPI. Peifer is the founder of Earthlighting and Smash the Bulb and has a Living Future Accreditation (LFA) from the International Living Future Institute. In February 2022, Peifer was awarded one of 4 L-Prizes for the Concept Phase by the Department of Energy. 

Is skipping a tradeshow treason?

Probably not, but large presences backing out of a LightFair is a capitulation to foreign players in the industry. The industry as a whole needs to admit that there’s more to learn every year by going to the biggest show, and the manufacturers and vendors need to be visible there.

You’ll wish you thought of this first. Jean-Côme, discusses with Michael and Greg, how Guardtex has developed Kanvaslight technology. Simply put, they weave fibre optics into fabric to create textiles that light up. They can even make the entire floor of your pool into a light source. This one is fun! Jean-Côme Mazière is a Mechanical Industrial Engineer with a diverse background in various fields and locations. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to study and work in Europe, North America, and South America. In 2020, he joined the team at Guardtex to develop Kanvaslight technology and currently serves as the COO of the US entity. In this role, he is responsible for directing both technical and commercial developments and he is committed to driving innovation and growth for the company. 

Camilla has an interesting way of looking at lighting design. Rather than a lighting designer, she calls herself a “darkness designer.” Camilla explains to Michael and John her philosophy on darkness, and how it is revealed with the use of light. Camilla leaves you with a little exercise on how to embrace darkness. Camilla has a bachelor’s degree in Design Culture and a master’s degree in Lighting Design from Aalborg University in Denmark. She started working as a team manager in a museum in Copenhagen, but continued working on research within light and darkness with Aalborg University and developing lighting on Anholt island in collaboration with the Dark Sky Anholt Association.