Owning and Belonging:

As light influences largely how we perceive, assess, and navigate the world around us, it is a research topic that bridges various fields. Lighting design is intimately linked with the technologies available to supply illumination. It is also inseparable from the built environment, interacting with the various shades and shapes of light and dark.

The studies related to lighting design that I engage in are seldom in isolation but seek collaboration with other disciplines to mutually inform each other. Naturally, that can present challenges and create unexpected obstacles but also provide rewards along the way. The seminar will present some situations and events encountered in recent projects (such as NorDark, LiSE, Colour Toolbox, Light and Perceived Safety) to discuss questions inherent to research teams and topics that span multiple disciplines and traditions.

Bio: Ute Besenecker, Associate Professor and Head of the Lighting Design Division at KTH Architecture, is a lighting design researcher and educator exploring the impact of lighting qualities on perception, behavior, and wellbeing in spatial environments. Her special interest is facilitating interdisciplinary research collaborations to connect research, education, and practice related to lighting. Ute’s background spans academic human factors research as well as professional practice in lighting design, policy development, product management, and architecture. She holds a PhD in Architectural Sciences from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as well as Master’s Degrees in Lighting from the Lighting Research Center at RPI, USA, and in Architecture and Design from Columbia University, USA, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany, and Polytechnico di Milano, Italy. Ute is a part of the editorial team for LEUKOS, the journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) as an Associate Editor, and member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), and the IES. She is founding member of the Light Collaboration Network for Research and Education (LCN), and part of the KTH NAVET working group.

Please note: The session will be taking place at the KTH Lighting Lab: KTH Lighting Design Laboratory, Teknikringen 74

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