The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute held its annual Partner-Alliance Event on September 6-7, 2017 in Troy, New York, a private event for LRC Partners, Alliance members and major sponsors from industry, government, and academia. This year’s conference had more than 100 attendees, making it one of the larger LRC conferences held to date.   

On day one of the event, attendees participated in meetings for the Alliance for Solid-State Illumination Systems and Technologies (ASSIST), the Light and Health Alliance, the Lighting Energy Alliance, and the Transportation Lighting Alliance. Before dinner at Franklin Plaza, attendees enjoyed a guided tour of the LRC’s 30,000 sq. ft. laboratory space, with hands-on demos of recent projects conducted at the LRC over the past year, showing the breadth of LRC research from circadian lighting for offices and hospitals to transportation lighting for highways and airports to advances in solid-state lighting, including connected lighting, PoE systems, and 3D printing.

The keynote speaker at Franklin Plaza was David Gadoury, Senior Research Scientist at Cornell University. Dr. Gadoury presented on the emerging science of LED lighting to defeat plant pathogens in agriculture. Dr. Gadoury is collaborating with the LRC on a $1.7 million project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to study the novel use of light to suppress plant pathogens affecting crop production, and the recently-announced VitisGen2 grant for $6.5 million.

On day two of the event, attendees participated in the LRC’s annual research conference, featuring presentations by LRC researchers, including LRC Director Mariana Figueiro, Director of Research Nadarajah Narendran, Associate Director Russ Leslie, Plant Pathologist Jaimin Patel, and Transportation Lighting Director John Bullough.

Day two also included a poster session and networking event with LRC graduate students—an opportunity for LRC Partners, Alliance members, and Friends of the LRC to recruit emerging talent.

LEDs Magazine Associate Editor Carrie Meadows attended the event and shared her observations on the research highlighted by LRC scientists in this article. LD+A also published an article featuring five projects presented at the event.

As the LRC nears its 30th anniversary, it has become apparent that the collaborations between LRC researchers, leading manufacturers and government agencies have made a significant impact on the world around us—not only in advancing lighting technologies and applications, but in the way people think about light. To celebrate these collaborations with the LRC Partners, Alliance members, and sponsors, event attendees received a print edition of the LRC book featuring 20 projects that have shaped our world—from enabling the broad adoption of solid-state lighting, to improving human health and wellbeing, to training the next generation of leaders in lighting.

The LRC’s growth and remarkable achievements would not have been possible without the ongoing collaborations between LRC researchers and the leading manufacturers and government agencies that comprise the LRC Partners—Current, powered by GE; the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA); OSRAM; Philips Lighting; and the Swedish Energy Agency.

LRC Alliance members include:

-ASSIST: Acuity Brands Lighting; Amerlux; BAE Systems; Crystal IS; Current, powered by GE; Dow Corning; Eaton; Federal Aviation Administration; Finelite; Hubbell Lighting; NYSERDA; OSRAM; Philips Lighting; Seoul Semiconductor; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

-Light and Health Alliance: Acuity Brands; Cree; Current, powered by GE; Ketra; OSRAM; Philips Lighting; and USAI Lighting.

-Lighting Energy Alliance: Efficiency Vermont, Energize Connecticut, National Grid, and Natural Resources Canada.

-Transportation Lighting Alliance: Audi, Automotive Lighting, Hella, OSRAM, Lumileds, and Varroc Lighting.

The event also provided an opportunity to welcome new LRC Director Mariana Figueiro and to thank Professor Mark Rea for his 30 years of service. In July, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute named Professor Figueiro as director of the LRC. Rea served as LRC Director since 1988.

“I look forward to continuing to work with our partners in industry, government, and academia, and to lead the remarkably dedicated group of LRC staff and students who work tirelessly to fulfill the LRC’s mission to advance the effective use of light for society and the environment,” said Figueiro.

“The LRC serves as the nucleus for independent and reliable lighting research and education in a rapidly changing business and government funding environment. There is nothing else like it anywhere in the world,” said Rea. “The future of the LRC is bright, particularly with Mariana leading.”

Further Reading
Passion for progress drives science into applications of solid-state lighting 
LEDs Magazine - September 2017 
Carrie Meadows, associate editor of LEDs Magazine, attends the LRC's 2017 Partner-Alliance event and shares her observations on the research and programs highlighted by LRC scientists.