Cape Coast, May 21, GNA – The Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, the University of Cape Coast’s (UCC) Laser and Fiber Optics Centre and the Heads of State Award Scheme have organised a symposium and an exhibition on ‘light and its contribution to life’ to mark this year’s International Day of Light in Cape Coast.
The event saw Senior High School students, scientists and members of the academia participating at the Academic Board Chamber of UCC while many others participated via several social media platforms.
The International Day of Light is celebrated on May 16 each year to commemorate the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman.
Marked on the theme; “Light is Life”, the Day was celebrated to highlight the important role light played in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communication, and energy.
It is also used to harness the unprecedented opportunities for improvements in agriculture and the delivery of energy and social services, for wealth creation and health.
Making a presentation on the topic ‘Light is life; Laser spectroscopy applied to the environmental, ecological and medical areas’ Professor Sune Svanberg of the Lund University, Sweden, said there were realistic applications of light for developing countries.
In that regard, he encouraged African Scientists to intensify their efforts to tap into the potential of light to solve many of its challenging problems.
Prof Svanberg indicated that the environment, ecology, agriculture, food safety and bio-medicine were all in a way connected to light.
“For instance, light and light-based technologies can be used in food preservation to ensure food security, for echo recording as well as in addressing the issue of maternal mortality”, he added.
Speaking on the theme, Professor Paul Kingsley Buah-Bassuah of the UCC Laser and Fiber Optics Centre, said light was at the origin of life through photosynthesis,
Light he explained provided energy and security, promoted well-being and health and served as an intriguing medium for artists and architects.
‘Brightness and shadow, colours and contrast impact not only on the atmosphere of the room or the mood of the moment, but they also affect our biorhythms, he explained.
Mrs Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh, Secretary-General of the Ghana Commission for UNESCO described the theme for this year’s celebration as apt and appropriate and said light had been life from creation.
According to her, Light and light base technologies had helped improve the quality of life of people worldwide and continued to play a crucial role in the lives of all.
Mrs Nerquaye-Tetteh called on the participants, most of whom were SHS students to appreciate light and make meaning of what they observed during the exhibition to enable them make meaningful contributions to improve the quality of life in the Country.
Professor Emmanuel Essel, Dean of Physical Sciences, UCC who chaired the event underscored the importance of light and said light was one of the most important resources for the survival of both animals and humans.
Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, Vice Chancellor of UCC in a speech read on his behalf stressed the need for more students especially girls to be encouraged to study physics and other sciences to help change their communities.
GNA