Communicating Science Worldwide with the UNESCO International Day of Light

Abstract

International audience<span style="color: black;"&gtFor over ten years, a global partnership of scientific societies and other organizations has worked with the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) to raise awareness amongst broad audiences of the importance of science for sustainable development, structured around the particular theme of light science and optical technologies. This partnership led to the proclamation of the year 2015 as the United Nations International Year of Light, and the recognition since 2018 of an annual UNESCO International Day of Light, celebrated every year on May 16. This contribution reviews these international actions and will describe a number of lessons that have been learned, not only about how to communicate to the public at large, but also the parallel (and in many ways more difficult) problem of science communication to decision-makers.&nbsp; <br&gt</span&g