Educational package on daylight

Professional organisations for architects and engineers require continuing education credits. For example, the North American AIA (Association of Independent Architects) requires 18 credit hours per year, of which 12 credit hours must be in the field of health and safety. Such requirements offer a window of opportunity to promote understanding of the basic biology, health effects, and ecological ramifications of both daylight and light from artificial sources. A second target audience is students and nonscientists such as lighting professionals looking for concrete practical guidelines for biologically optimal lighting practices, and a convincing rationale for their use. Among architecture and engineering students surveyed by the EU project DAY.KE, roughly half reported no knowledge of lighting metrics and software resources, and 90% reported no knowledge of applicable regulations. At the same time, only 30% reported treatment of daylight in their normal curriculum. A short online course, even if not formally required, would likely find a wide audience.

The project aims to produce a free, widely available online course conveying basic and applied science of daylight, light from artificial sources and related effects upon health. Such a course would likely be offered in two modules, one focusing upon general aspects interesting to all nonspecialists, and a second providing practical guidelines for professionals in the civil arts and sciences. Total length would be approximately 6 hours per module.