LIGHTFAIR International 2015 Keynotes and Impact Speakers Announced

The unique combination of innovation, science, and design covered by the keynote and impact speakers at LIGHTFAIR International 2015 creates an unparalleled educational and inspirational experience. The speakers are a part of the world's largest annual lighting-related conference which features 140 top presenters during its five-day program May 3 - 7 in New York's Javits Center (pre-conference Lightfair Institute: May 3 - 4; trade show and conference: May 5 - 7).

Shuji Nakamura, PhD is a 2014 Nobel Prize Winner in Physics and will present "The History of LED Technology to the Nobel Prize to Today's GaN" during the Pre-Conference Institute Keynote Luncheon on May 3. This address will cover the history of LED technology from his early work which led to the Nobel Prize to today's GaN which will lead to the next wave of solid state lighting. Dr. Nakamura is a professor at University of California Santa Barbara and co-founder of SORAA Inc.

Inventor Chuck Hoberman will speak as the Institute keynote on May 4 about his pioneering work in "Transformable Design" with projects that range from public art to kinetic facades to dynamic sets for live entertainment. His presentation will show how he realizes large-scale transformable structures, and takes his inventive concepts through the stages of engineering, manufacturing, and installation. Providing an overview of his methods to create objects that controllably change their size, shape, and surface, Hoberman will share his insights into the process of innovation itself. Through his products, patents, and structures, Hoberman demonstrates how objects can be foldable, retractable, or shape-shifting. Hoberman is the president and founder of Hoberman Associates in New York. This keynote luncheon is sponsored by Cooper Lighting by Eaton, booth 1157.

As part of the new series "Legends of Lighting," lighting designer Howard Brandston will be featured as an impact speaker at LFI and interviewed by Chip Israel, founder of Lighting Design Alliance, for an engaging conversation on Brandston's work and past projects on May 5. Brandston is the founding partner of the Brandston Partnership, a lighting design consulting firm based in New York. He is a past president of the IES and has received over 100 design awards, including the IES Medal, the Institute Honors from the AIA for his contributions to architecture, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the IALD, and the United States Institute of Theater Technology Distinguished Achievement in Lighting Award. Brandston has also been an adjunct professor, guest lecturer or visiting professor for over 50 years.

Mark Rea, PhD will outline that great strides have been made to reduce the cost of lighting for general illumination; however, little progress has been made to increase the benefits that lighting provides to society in "Monetizing the Benefits of Lighting" as the Impact Speaker on May 6. Dr. Rea has served as director since the Lighting Research Center was established in 1988. Trained as a biophysicist and neuroscientist, with a PhD in biophysics, he is the author of more than 250 scientific and technical articles related to vision, lighting engineering and human factors, and was the editor-in-chief of the eighth and ninth editions of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook.

Keynote luncheon presentations are included for all attendees registered for courses during the two Institute days that make up the LFI Pre-Conference program and must be selected during the pre-registration process. The impact speaker presentations are open to all attendees and exhibitors and will be held in the LFI Spotlight Lounge on Level 1 of the LFI exhibit hall area.

More information on keynote and impact speaker presentations can be found at http://www.lightfair.com/lightfair/V40/index.cvn?id=10375.

For Lightfair International 2015, the Pre-Conference program will take place from Sunday, May 3 - Monday, May 4, 2015 and the LFI Trade Show and Conference will run from Tuesday, May 5 - Thursday, May 7, 2015.