The International Day of Light is held worldwide on 16 May, commemorating the day in 1960 when American engineer Theodore Maiman demonstrated the first working laser. The initiative was launched under the auspices of UNESCO to raise awareness of the role of light and light-based technologies in science, culture, and everyday life. Light is indispensable in areas ranging from modern communications to medical diagnostics and energy-efficient solutions. The message is also reinforced by our event.
“We have energy for everything” – the focus is on the future
This year’s programme centres on the slogan “We have energy for everything”, which refers to the solar power plant our institute commissioned last autumn. This development symbolizes not only our commitment to sustainability but also that research and innovation are equally important at ELI ALPS. The motto also conveys that energy in various forms plays a role in the work of our institute: laser operation is based on the movement of electrons between energy levels; pulse energy is an important parameter of light sources; and our physicists investigate energy changes occurring during ultrarapid processes.
During the evening, visitors can choose from programmes running in parallel:
- spectacular science demonstrations,
- fun, interactive activities,
- popular science lectures, and
- special “quick-fire questions” that, when answered, reveal which statements are true for the world of ELI ALPS.
The good news is that with a little help, everyone can succeed – the lifesaving question will ensure that no one goes without experiences, and that anyone can explore our otherwise inaccessible spaces.
Recommended for all ages
The purpose of the event is to show that physics is not purely theoretical and dry, but rather surprising, spectacular, entertaining, and integral to our daily lives. Without physics, there would be no modern communication or smart devices. For the youngest children, the goal is to spark curiosity; for students, it is to demonstrate how physics helps us understand why the world works the way it does. The message for young adults is that research offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future, while for families, it is that shared experimentation turns learning into an experience.
Our “Day of Light” event is not just a programme, but an encounter with science and an opportunity to get closer to the world that is shaping tomorrow.
Lectures
Venue: Conference hall
17:15
A few sextillion attoseconds on ELI ALPS Laser Research Institute – Head of Science Outreach Centre
18:15
Energy of the void – Quantum vacuum, light and the Universe – dr. Szabolcs Hack, Research Fellow
19:15
ELI ALPS as one of the world’s greenest scientific research institutes – Prof. Gábor Szabó, CEO
Demonstrations | Games
17:00–21:00
- Turning the invisible into visible: image reading (Kiss Dániel)
- Chilling experiments (dr. Ábrók Levente, dr. Oláh Nikolett)
- The real "light-eaters" – light hunt with plants (prof. Hideghéty Katalin, dr. Mogyorósi Károly, dr. Molnár Réka)
- Gravitation, black holes and dark energy (Juhász Bence)
- Double-slit experiment (Lehotai Levente, Lehotainé Sallai Krisztina)
- Optical illusions (dr. Pajer Viktor)
- Virtual lab tour (Lucza Tamás)
- Observing ultrafast processes – catch the electron! (Nagy Gergely)
- Simple experiments (Aaishi Kahaly, Aariyana Kahaly, dr. Mousumi Upadhyay Kahaly)
- Touching is allowed (Herbicz Zoltán)
- Secrets of the Optical workshop (dr. Hanyecz Veronika, Szabó Zénó)
- Engineering measurements at ELI (Szombathy Péter)
- How electromagnetic waves travel (Törőcsik Konrád)
- The power of the void (dr. Farkas Arnold Péter)
- Bright experiments (Ignácz Ferenc)
- Laser chess (dr. Tóth Attila)
- Keeping researchers safe (Saba Hussain, Jóri Zoltán, dr. Molnár Csilla, dr. Oszkó Albert, Untener Kornél, Zala Izabella)
- Magical waves (Manaswini Mukhopadhyay, dr. Sourin Mukhopadhyay, dr. Shamayita Ray)
- Cleanroom fashion (Fejős-Mészáros Kinga, Miskolczi Zsófia)
- Adventures in a virtual lab (dr. Csizmadia Tamás)
-
Helium-neon laser interferometry (Seres Imre)
Visit to Focus, our interactive visitor space 17:00–21:00
(Csányi Kata, Filus Zoltán, Horváth Vera, Karsai Endre, Kovalovszki Balázs)
Popular science posters
17:00–21:00
1. Flashfacts
2. Smart quanta
Guided tours
17:30, 18:30, 19:30
Solar power plant tour (Sütő Péter, Gyarmati Zoltán)
17:00–21:00
Experimental hall tour (dr. Gulyás Oldal Lénárd, dr. Hack Szabolcs, dr. Trényi-Sárosi Krisztina, dr. Zsíros Szanna, Várkonyi Viktor)
We reserve the right to modify the programme.
Venue: ELI ALPS Laser Research Institute, Szeged, Wolfgang Sandner u. 3.
Opening hours: from 5 pm to 9 pm on 15 May 2026
The event is free of charge, but prior registration is required. A single registration provides access to all programmes of the event.
Registration: https://indico.eli-laser.eu/event/249/
All interested parties are welcome to attend!