COVID-19 Casts Shadow on IDL 2020 with Events Postponed

EMMETT WARREN, NEWS EDITOR
emmett.warren@photonics.com

As photonics conferences worldwide begin to plan for virtual meetups in lieu of conference centers, the secretariat team for the International Day of Light (IDL) issued a statement guiding the public to other forms of celebrations for the event.

“Because of the recent outbreak of COVID-19, cities and countries worldwide are putting into place a number of containment measures that seriously impact the organization of conferences and public events,” said the IDL secretariat team.

The IDL is set to take place May 16, but several activities and events will no longer be able to take place as scheduled. So far, 26 photonics events have been canceled, postponed, or shifted to online formats. Recently, the Biophotonics Congress in Florida and CLEO event in California both moved to online events.

The IDL secretariat team offered the public and event coordinators alternative ways to celebrate, suggesting that events throughout the year may still be able to officially recognize the celebration of the first laser operation in 1960.

“Instead of cancelling outright, at this stage you may wish to simply announce rescheduling to a later date to be confirmed once we see how the global situation evolves,” the secretariat team stated in a press release. “Secondly, many events such as conferences are already responding to the travel restrictions by adopting all-online formats.”

The press release also pointed to USC professor Andrea Armani’s Photonics Online Meetup (POM) event as an example of this format. Photonics.com covered Armani’s event throughout the year.

“The situation we are in at this time is unique, and we are all learning together how to adjust and reorganize our work and lives,” the press release stated.

The secretariat team encouraged questions to be directed to it at dayoflight@eps.org.