The ‘ICIQ Symposium: Lights on Chemistry’ will bring together worldwide leaders at the intersection between chemistry and light-based applications to discuss future directions and perspectives along these innovative research lines. The aim of this international chemistry meeting is not only to have a series of lectures from experts in the field, but also to provide an optimal setting for intense interdisciplinary discussion and exchanges of opinion.

The organization of the Symposium is most timely, since UNESCO has proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light (IYL 2015, http://www.light2015.org). We consider it extremely important to raise awareness among young chemists of how the science and applications of light create revolutionary technologies that directly improve quality of life worldwide. For this reason, the ICIQ Symposium will not require any registration fee. In this way, we expect to gather a multinational and multidisciplinary attendance, to celebrate and promote chemistry in the Year of Light.