Daylight Awareness Week 2022

DAY 1
The Sun, Star of the Stars
10 May 2022

This year, the Daylight Awareness Week took us on a long journey to explore how light travels from the sun into our cells. It all starts in the core of our nearest star, the sun. The light and energy that make life on Earth possible originate from a nuclear fusion process there and illuminate our planet after passing through the atmosphere of the sun and ours. While an heliophysicist guided us through the different layers of the sun and its intricacies, an expert in atmospheric and climate science shed light on the phenomena of global dimming and brightening, taking place in our atmosphere, and causing decadal variations in the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface. Star of the stars, the sun has fascinated and been the object of worship since the dawn of time. To conclude the first stage of our journey, we took a leap into the past with a specialist of archaeoastronomy, who talked about the role of the sky, and in particular the sun, in ancient cultures and their architecture.

FLYER
Video

Talks followed by a Q&A session
With

Dr C. Alex Young
Solar Astrophysics
NASA Heliophysics Science Division, USA

Prof. Martin Wild
Atmospheric and Climate Science
ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Prof. Giulio Magli
Archaeoastronomy
Faculty of Civil Architecture, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Moderated by

Prof. Markus Kalberer, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland

DAY 2
Sunlight on Earth
11 May 2022

After its journey through space, sunlight arrives on Earth. In addition to illuminating and warming us, daylight plays a multitude of essential roles in our direct environment. Firstly, it is a powerful source of renewable energy whose potential is not yet fully exploited. While technology is constantly evolving to make the most of the sun’s energy, plants are experts in this and make optimal use of this energy to produce food. The second contribution in this session was dedicated to the role of daylight in forest ecology. Finally, our stopover on Earth was also an opportunity to reflect on the use of natural light in buildings. This can affect our physiological and psychological health and has comfort, behavioural, economic, and environmental consequences.

FLYER
Video

Talks followed by group discussions and networking
With

Prof. Richard Perez
Renewable and Solar Energy
University of Albany, USA

Prof. Harald Bugmann
Forest Ecology
ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Prof. Marilyne Andersen
Sustainable Architecture, Daylighting Strategies
EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

Moderated by

Prof. Jean-Louis Scartezzini, Solar Energy and Building Physics Laboratory, EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland

DAY 3
Effects of Daylight at the Molecular Level
12 May 2022

The journey of light continues, this time in the infinitely small. What are the effects of daylight at the molecular level? Our three guest speakers gave us very diverse answers to this question. One important biochemical process resulting from our exposure to daylight is the production of vitamin D in our skin, which is essential for a performant immune system and good health. Daylight also has great potential for photochemical treatments. Our second expert told us how such treatments can be powered by daylight for ophthalmic applications. The third and last topic took us to the field of artificial photosynthesis. This promising approach in chemistry aims to generate hydrogen – as a green and sustainable fuel – using water and sunlight. A very topical theme in the face of constantly growing energy demand.

FLYER
Video

Talks followed by a Q&A session
With

Prof. Michael F. Holick
Endocrinology, Photobiology of Vitamin D
Boston University, USA

Dr Sabine Kling
Vision Sciences, Photochemical Treatments
ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Prof. Greta R. Patzke
Chemistry, Artificial Photosynthesis
University of Zurich, Switzerland

Moderated by

Prof. Bernhard Wehrli, Surface Waters Research & Management, Eawag Dübendorf, Switzerland

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