Workshop

Luminous Links
Encounters with Light in Science, Society, and the Senses

June 18, 2025, 8:30–16:00

Meridian Hall, Collegium Helveticum

Convened by

Audrey Bowden
Senior Fellow 2024–2025

Details: Public event, free of charge.

Light shapes our lives in ways we often overlook—influencing perception, guiding behavior, impacting health, and shaping the environments we inhabit. Luminous Links brings together experts from neuroscience, space exploration, ecology, urban studies, and sensory science to explore how light operates across scales—from brain activity to sustainable cities. Through engaging talks and demonstrations, this event reveals the many roles light plays in illuminating human experience and the world around us.

This event welcomes anyone interested in the intersections of light, science, and society. It will be especially relevant to scientists, clinicians, psychologists, urban planners, environmental scientists, and others curious about how light influences perception, health, ecological systems, and daily life. Luminous Links offers engaging presentations and discussions for all who wish to better understand light’s role in shaping both humans and habitats.

Program

Please note: The schedule and talk titles are tentative and subject to change

08:30	Registration & check-in
08:45	Opening & welcome remarks by Audrey Bowden and the Collegium’s directorate
09:00	Illuminating the Mind Session 1
	How Earth Light Changes Us: An Astronaut’s Perspective Sian Proctor Phoenix, Arizona, US
	My Work with Light From Neurophotonics to White Light Experiences in Altered States of Consciousness Felix Scholkmann University Hospital Zurich, CH
	Illuminating the Brain Vascular Network in Stroke Mohamad El Amki University Hospital Zurich, CH
	The Beauty of Moving Together Using Light to Understand Synchrony Between Bodies and Brains Ryssa Moffat ETH Zurich, CH
11:00	Coffee break & technology demo During the break, participants will have a chance to demo some commercial and under-research-development-devices to see their brain activity captured in real time.
11:15	Audience Q&A Session 1
11:45	Illuminating the Environment Session 2
	Steps Towards Sustainable Outdoor Lighting An Ecological Assessment Janine Bolliger Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, CH
	Forays Through Zurich’s Lighting History From Early Electrification to Rewilding the Night Nitin Bathla ETH Zurich, CH
	Audience Q&A Session 2
13:00	Lunch break Connect with other participants or informally continue the discussion about the morning session over lunch. Lunch available for registered participants only (registration link above).
14:15	Illuminating the Senses Session 3
	Farbe & Flavor The Role of Color in Culinary Arts A presentation on how color perception influences taste, plating, and dining experiences. Includes a guided tasting experience. Margaretha Jüngling Zurich, CH
	Audience Q&A Session 3
15:15	Speakers’ panel discussion
15:45–16:00	Closing remarks

Want to be the first to know about upcoming events?

Program

Registration & check-in

Opening & welcome remarks

Illuminating the MindSession 1

How Earth Light Changes Us: An Astronaut’s Perspective

My Work with LightFrom Neurophotonics to White Light Experiences in Altered States of Consciousness

Illuminating the Brain Vascular Network in Stroke

The Beauty of Moving Together Using Light to Understand Synchrony Between Bodies and Brains

Coffee break & technology demo

Audience Q&ASession 1

Illuminating the EnvironmentSession 2

Steps Towards Sustainable Outdoor LightingAn Ecological Assessment

Forays Through Zurich’s Lighting HistoryFrom Early Electrification to Rewilding the Night

Audience Q&ASession 2

Lunch break

Illuminating the SensesSession 3

Farbe & FlavorThe Role of Color in Culinary Arts

Audience Q&ASession 3

Speakers’ panel discussion

Closing remarks

Illuminating the Mind
Session 1

My Work with Light
From Neurophotonics to White Light Experiences in Altered States of Consciousness

The Beauty of Moving Together
Using Light to Understand Synchrony Between Bodies and Brains

Audience Q&A
Session 1

Illuminating the Environment
Session 2

Steps Towards Sustainable Outdoor Lighting
An Ecological Assessment

Forays Through Zurich’s Lighting History
From Early Electrification to Rewilding the Night

Audience Q&A
Session 2

Illuminating the Senses
Session 3

Farbe & Flavor
The Role of Color in Culinary Arts

Audience Q&A
Session 3