In September 2017 Massey University held a symposium on healthy lighting, bringing together experts to discuss the topic ‘using light to promote health and wellbeing’. It was well attended by lighting suppliers, lighting designers, engineers, architects and academics in the field of lighting and medicine.
The relationship between light and wellbeing has been talked about for some years but the seminar speakers made it clear that there is still a lot that we don’t yet know. Some common claims about health and light go beyond what has been scientifically proven. However, some benefits are clearly supported by science.
Following is an overview of the keynote speaker’s presentation. The other speakers’ presentations were equally fascinating, covering topics like lighting for healthy schools and the controversy over the blue light component of white light, and these will be covered in future issues.
Associate professor Guy Warman of the Department of Anaesthesiology at University of Auckland addressed lighting, biological clocks and sleep, and the considerations for architecture that arise from these factors. Warman is a chronobiologist – someone who studies the biology of time. He explained the latest research that shows that adequate sleep and a regular circadian rhythm are essential for our health.