From Photons to Physiology: Measuring Light Exposure and Visual Experience

Exposure to the optical environment is fundamental for several physiological functions related to health, including entrainment of the circadian clock, and ocular development (including myopia). Over the past decades, wearable light loggers have made it convenient to measure light exposure under real-world conditions. This webinar will discuss recent developments in the field of measuring light exposure and visual experience from a physiologically motivated perspective. The webinar is designed for researchers and practitioners interest in measuring and characterising light exposure and visual experience.

Prof. Manuel Spitschan is a world expert in the impact of light on human physiology and behaviour, running a research program at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics and Technical University Munich (TUM) and TUMCREATE, TUM's research platform in Singapore. He is active in the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) as Chair of JTC20, Speaker of the Daylight Academy, and member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Light, Rhythms and Circadian Health (SLRCH).
 

Subject Matter Level: Introductory - Assumes little previous knowledge of the topic

What You Will Learn:
• Advances in wearable light-logging technologies for high-resolution quantification of spectral, temporal, and spatial characteristics of environmental optical radiation
• Physiologically relevant metrics for modeling circadian photoreception and emmetropization, including melanopic irradiance
• Methodological frameworks for integrating light exposure data with behavioral ocular and circadian outcomes in real-world research settings

Who Should Attend:
• Students, researchers and professionals interested in the role of light in human health
• Anyone curious about how light exposure is measured in daily life using wearable technologies
• Practitioners and policymakers in health, education and architecture looking to understand the basics of light-health interactions

About the Presenter: Manuel Spitschan from Technical University of Munich

Prof. Manuel Spitschan is a leading expert on how light affects human physiology and behavior. He is Assistant Professor of Chronobiology & Health at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. His research investigates how the spectral, spatial, and temporal properties of light influence circadian rhythms, sleep, and vision, with applications in health and well-being. He also leads work at TUMCREATE, TUM’s research platform in Singapore. He received his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania and held postdoctoral roles at Stanford, Oxford and Basel. He serves as Chair of CIE JTC20, Speaker of the Daylight Academy, and Board Member of the Society for Light, Rhythms and Circadian Health (SLRCH). Committed to open science and public engagement, he bridges disciplines to translate scientific insights into real-world impact.