A new video produced by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) for its Lighting Education Facility Showcase provides a peek behind the curtain of the exciting work being done by the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

“This video captures the spirit of the LRC, what we are all about, what it’s like to work or study here, and gives viewers a sense of the environment, the culture, our mission and our values,” said LRC director Mariana Figueiro.

A film crew interviewed LRC faculty, research scientists, and graduate students for the IES video series. The videos are available for viewing on the IES Lighting Education Facility Showcase site.

“The Lighting Research Center is a global research center. We welcome students from and collaborate with researchers on six continents,” said Nadarajah Narendran, the LRC’s director of research and graduate education programs. “We hope that students from around the world will consider joining our program.”

In 1990, the LRC became the first university research center to offer graduate degrees in lighting and today, offers a M.S. and a Ph.D. to educate future leaders in lighting. The M.S. in Lighting program is a nine-month degree program that allows students to engage with world-class faculty experts in architecture, engineering, design, and biosciences. Students enrolled in the M.S. in Lighting program explore emerging trends in areas such as circadian lighting, connected lighting, 3D printing, horticultural lighting, and other topics in lighting technology, application, and design.

The LRC attracts students from around the world with undergraduate degrees in engineering, physics, biology, psychology, architecture, and design. The program culminates in a master’s project during which each student focuses on a particular area of interest under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Upon graduation, students have the opportunity to participate in a paid externship for three months or more with one of many lighting organizations that have agreed to host LRC students.

About the Lighting Research Center

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the world’s leading center for lighting research and education. Established in 1988 by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the LRC conducts research in solid-state lighting, light and health, transportation lighting and safety, energy efficiency, and plant pathology. LRC lighting scientists with multidisciplinary expertise in research, technology, design, and human factors collaborate with a global network of leading manufacturers and government agencies, developing innovative lighting solutions for projects that range from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to U.S. Navy submarines to hospital neonatal intensive-care units. In 1990, the LRC became the first university research center to offer graduate degrees in lighting and today offers a M.S. in lighting and a Ph.D. to educate future leaders in lighting. With 35 full-time faculty and staff, 15 graduate students, and a 30,000-square-foot laboratory space, the LRC is the largest university-based lighting research and education organization in the world.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America’s first technological research university. Rensselaer encompasses five schools, 32 research centers, more than 145 academic programs, and a dynamic community made up of more than 7,900 students and over 100,000 living alumni. Rensselaer faculty and alumni include more than 145 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With nearly 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. To learn more, please visit www.rpi.edu.