Science Is Golden

SCIENCE IS GOLDEN

Scientific research, and the solutions it can bring to urgent issues such as sustainability, will be the focus of her presidential year, says Helen Loomes

Putting the emphasis on science, and the solutions it holds for key issues such as sustainability and human centric lighting, was to be a primary focus in her presidential year, said incoming SLL president Helen Loomes in her address.

'I'm intrigued by what new developments will bring, and enjoy the thrill of learning something new,' she said. 'For instance, I became interested by the discovery of the third photoreceptor in the eye – intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells – and this added a new dimension to my career in lighting. I started attending scientific conferences and reading learned papers, which led to my regularly presenting on the topic of human-centric lighting.'

It was important to share this aspect of lighting with the world in general, Loomes said. To achieve this she was proposing that the SLL holds a large conference. She acknowledged the tradition within the SLL of having a symposium prepared and delivered by the Lighting Research and Technology Editorial Board, centred on a consensus of knowledge around a given field of lighting. However, Loomes said that in addition to the LR&T remit, she would like to broaden the field for the event she had in mind.

'The LR&T Journal is a valuable and wellrespected part of the SLL, enabling research to be published via peer review, and it provides a platform to share these ideas with the lighting community,' she said. 'However, for the event next year I would like to widen their scope, invite other practitioners to present interesting case studies and create some crosstalk between potential researchers, and those who will put this knowledge into practice.'

Loomes also acknowledged that organising such an event involved a great deal of effort and hard work, and that it should not fall on the shoulders of LR&T alone. 'We have the brilliant machine that is CIBSE behind us, and I would like to call upon everyone to spread the word, encouraging others to attend. The ideas for this event are still very much at the germination stage, and I would welcome assistance from anyone who is interested in making this a landmark event for the lighting industry.'

As the webinar Agile Lighting Research, held last year, had confirmed to her, the cross-pollination of thoughts and ideas was vital, said Loomes. 'We sparked an ongoing conversation between researchers, practitioners and those who have access to funding. This conversation will have the benefit of drawing our community together, and possibly providing some answers to the questions we already have, and those we haven’t thought of yet.'

I'm intrigued by what new developments will bring, and enjoy the thrill of learning something new

On the subject of events, Loomes also announced that the SLL would be expanding its presence at CIBSE's Build2Perform. 'This will be branded as Light2Perform and will consist of our own area and dedicated theatre,' she said. 'In addition to sharing knowledge, this will become a meeting hub for all lighting people.' Content for the two-day event was still being developed, and it would also be used to announce the winner of the SLL Young Lighter Award and hear the winning paper, she added.

Loomes invited two past presidents, Bob Bohannon and Ruth Kelly-Waskett, to join her on the platform following her address: 'The legacy and continuity is perhaps something that many people will not be aware of'

Loomes also emphasised the importance of the collaboration and continuity which lay behind the president's year, highlighting that engagement with the role lasted much more than a year, in both build up and legacy. Given that they were unable to speak at live events because of the pandemic, she invited two past presidents, Bob Bohannon and Ruth KellyWaskett, to join her to give their reflections.

'I think we can safely say that it was not just one year in the history of the SLL but that you have provided us with a legacy,' Loomes told them. 'This legacy and continuity is perhaps something that many people will not be aware of.' An informal group, the VP Group, comprising all the vice presidents, president elect, president and immediate past president, meets every two months 'to consolidate our ideas and make sure that new initiatives are not just for one year but that we can build on everything together as a team,' she explained.

For the next year that team will be Andrew Bissell, Dan Lister, Kristina Allison, Carolina Florian and Loomes herself. 'This team is expanded by Brendan Keely, to whom special thanks are due, all of the executive and council members, whose hard work and dedication make our society what it is, and the SLL regional lighting representatives who add the local touch which is invaluable.' But ultimately the SLL is the members, concluded Loomes, 'and I am looking forward to working with everyone, including the CIBSE staff and regions, over the next year.'

The AGM took place at the Royal Institute of British Architects on 24 May

Science was her first love, says Helen Loomes, who jokes that it was almost preordained that she should become involved with lighting, 'with Helen being the Greek for light and Loomes being very close to lumen'. But like many people in the lighting profession, she says, 'I love the combination of science and art that lighting brings'.

A chance job advert in the local paper led her to Holophane, working in the laboratory. She was also sent to Southbank Polytechnic to study for a City and Guilds qualification in illuminating engineering and lighting technology. 'I recently had a chat with one of my lecturers, David Loe, who remembers me as his first female student,' she says. 'I probably wouldn’t have known what a mentor was then, but David made everything seem so interesting and could explain it further on the train back home to Hemel Hempstead. He had the uncanny ability to make everything not quite as complicated as it first seemed.'

Other people who gave her encouragement in lighting and from whom 'I learned in a very informal way' were the 'three musketeers', Barrie Wilde, Bob Venning and Eric Maddock. 'Knowledge was shared over the lunch table and I wish I still had the napkins with all the detailed drawings of lighting designs or ideas.'

Loomes worked in sales at Zumtobel and in public relations at Concord, and then set up Blueridge Consultancy where for five years she offered PR and marketing services for the lighting industry and recruitment services for designers. She has spent the past 15plus years working at Trilux, latterly as head of the Trilux Akademie until her retirement in 2022.