The recording of the third and final CIE 2025 keynote lecture is now available!
As part of the CIE Project “Understanding Science – Understanding Light”, the keynote lectures from the CIE 2025 Scientific Conference (held from 7–9 July 2025 in Vienna) are being made publicly available—with German subtitles.
The German subtitles support the project’s aim to engage a broad audience in Vienna, Austria, making scientific topics around light more accessible to the local population.
Watch the third keynote lecture on our Vimeo channel HERE.
About the Speaker: Prof. Brainard’s academic work has been concerned with the effects of light on biological and behavioral responses of animals and humans for more than 40 years. He has authored 130 research articles, over 50 book chapters, and 14 books or monographs, including several standards for the CIE and IES. Since 1992, he has served as US Division Six Director (USNC/CIE), chaired the IES Photobiology Committee, and currently co-chairs the IES Light and Health Committee. He was named an IES Fellow in 2019 and received the IES Medal in 2021. His awards also include the Johnson Space Center Director’s Innovation Award (2015) and research honors from the Professional Lighting Design Convention (2013) and the American Society for Photobiology (2010).
Talk Abstract: Light profoundly impacts consciousness through stimulation of the visual system and powerfully regulated circadian rhythms, hormones, and behaviour in humans. These physiological effects of light have a broad regulatory impact on virtually all tissues in the body. The presentation addressed topics ranging from how light spectrum regulates the human pineal gland, to how NASA used that fundamental information to change the lighting onboard the International Space Station, and how advances were being made towards changing lighting in places where we live, work, learn, and play. The door was opened to understanding the impact of light on all levels of human health.
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The recording and German subtitles were made possible with the support of the Wirtschaftsagentur Wien (Vienna Business Agency) – a fund of the City of Vienna.