Mariana Figueiro, director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, will reveal how lighting can optimize health based on the latest research at National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors’ (NAILD) Innovation 2018 on Feb. 13-16 in Rancho Mirage, California.

Mariana Figueiro, director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Image: Rensselaer Architecture)

Figueiro will present a session, Light and Health: What We Know, What We Don’t Know and What We Need to Know, at NAILD’s annual conference, “Unlock the Future of Lighting,” which will be held at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa.

Lighting isn’t just for vision, Figueiro says. Figueiro’s educational session will offer attendees practical design solutions to increase the potential for circadian light exposure in buildings based on the latest research.

“Mariana Figueiro heads the world’s leading center for lighting and education,” said NAILD President Robin Watt. “Light is the main synchronizer of our circadian rhythms and we are still trying to fully understand how a lack of synchrony affects our health. The research the LRC is doing is critically important to our industry and we’re thrilled to welcome the organization to NAILD Innovation 2018.”

Figueiro’s workshop will be one of many educational sessions that will be part of NAILD Innovation 2018. The conference offers lighting professionals top-notch educational sessions, workshops, golf and other networking opportunities, as well as a first-hand look at the most innovative lighting products on the market. NAILD will also present its second annual Forces Under 40 awards, recognizing the next generation of rising stars in the industry.

The 2018 educational sessions will include:

• Who Moved My Light Bulb: Adapting Your Business for the Future, Paul Hafner, creator of NAILD’s signature lighting specialist program, with panelists

• The Lighting Industry: Today’s Landscape and Tomorrow’s War for the Ceiling, John Curran, U.S. Department of Energy

• Lumens as a Service, Iain Campbell, Rocky Mountain Institute

• Indoor Horticulture: Learn How to Navigate This Budding Market, Dave Inman, ProGrow Tech

• The Rise of Autonomous Buildings: How AI and Sensors are Transforming Buildings, Dan Ryan, VergeSense

• Removing Barriers to Market Adoption, Brady Nemeth, DesignLights Consortium

The Product Sprint offers exhibitors the opportunity to showcase its most innovative products and member voting will determine the winners in six categories: Best Luminaire, Best Lamp, Best Control, Best Ballast/Driver, Best Accessory/Service and Best Overall.

Organized Casual Conferences (OCCs) give members a chance to get in front of new customers in an organized networking format. Distributors will have an opportunity for one-on-one introductions with vendors.

NAILD members are lighting distributors and manufacturers of lighting equipment, products and supplies used by MROs, contractors and facility end-user customers. Members also include full-line electrical distributors, energy service companies and lighting sales reps.