A topic that is not greatly considered is the
role of professional associations in the process
of educating new lighting designers.
“Yes, Associations could be an important
interface for young graduates. But here too
we lag behind. Something is being done,
to be honest, but perhaps a more dynamic
role would be welcome, in particular in the
area of specialist education, which is not
related to academic credits, if we consider
these simple bureaucratic fulfilments.”
In other words, there are quite a few proposals
to make the entire system evolve. Right, but
what do we teach today, in this era of
technological innovation?
“Innovation in the past years has been strong,
the advent of LEDs proves it. And this is the
exact reason why, in a phase like the present
one, we need a solid knowledge-base that
only universities are able to offer.”
Cinzia Buratti teaches Thermodynamics
at the Department of Engineering of the
University of Perugia. The professor places the
topic of education and the gap between
demand and supply at the centre of this
reflection, starting from another point of view.
The point is an objective one, which at times
is disregarded: in other words, the size
of the universities and each faculty.
“Probably the gap between demand and
supply with reference to education in lighting
engineering exists, and it exists particularly in
the smaller universities, which find it difficult
to provide an education that responds to the
present needs of the manufacturing sector
and design. However, this difficulty is due to
the present organization of the Italian national
university system. In the three-year course
of studies, it is unthinkable to adequately
study a number of topics in greater detail.
This is different, I imagine, in the universities
with more students, professors and space.
It must also be said that there is a teaching
method that is typical in Italian universities
and that characterizes us Italians, compared to,
for example, the methods used in the Anglo-
Saxon universities. Our approach, in Italy,
is based on an extensive study of the basic
Maurizio Rossi
Politecnico di Milano
scientific subjects. This method leads to
the acquisition of a sound basic knowledge,
which in turn favours a versatile approach
to problems. We offer students the instruments
so that they can avail of a specific education.”
Buratti then confirms a general problem,
the lack of a culture of light.
“Yes, it is true, a culture of light is lacking,
as a suitable education is missing. However,
in order to form a culture, we cannot only
depend on the universities. We are a small
part of the world that rotates around lighting
design. For example, for some private clients,
the cultural approach is completely absent.
A vast and important work effort on the public
opinion is required. Work to raise awareness
of the people is necessary. And it is what we
do in our relations with the territory, with
the companies, and with professional
associations.”
Carla Balocco, professor of Thermodynamics
at the department of Industrial Engineering
of the University of Florence, considers it a
problem that is totally cultural and related
to awareness. In fact, according to professor
Balocco, the lag that can be noted in teaching
Lighting engineering does not depend
so much from any deficiency in the academic
institutions, but rather on a general cultural
lag that regards society as a whole.
“The lag stems from inside the families
and society and is connected with an
underestimation of the topic of energy, that is
not understood or seen with awareness and
responsibility. In fact, energy consumption and
energy for uses at low temperatures must be
rationalized. Energy must be used considering
its thermodynamic quality. In the past years
we have seen a growth of the importance
of Lighting design projects, the role of light in
the Human Centric Lighting logic, the Lighting
designers’ need for further knowledge, and
light in smart cities, and notwithstanding all
this, general culture has not changed. LEDs for
example have produced a revolution but also
a series of misunderstandings, due to the lack
of adequate information about light and the
very concept of the Lighting design project.”
Then the professor’s reflection shifts to
concepts regarding entropy and sustainable
energy, the energy of the sun and light, and
then concludes: “We need to include the
second principle of thermodynamics in the
design process and consider the finiteness
of the negentropic flow, in other words of
information deriving from the sun and from
a few other sources. Lighting design should
be seen as an instrument that is useful for
the exchange of knowledge and information.
This would be feasible in the presence of the
possibility to communicate rapidly, of an
efficient design process, and of competences
accompanied by a widespread design and
manufacturing capacity. The high level of
development required by the design process
for a rational use of energy, and therefore
the design of high quality light for vision,
perception and ergonomics, requires a
well-structured and interdisciplinary set
of professional figures, with a high level
of exchange of information, rapid
communication, new digital management
procedures for forwarding and modifying
Carla Balocco
Università di Firenze
In a Country where there
is no serious long-term
planning with regard to
research and innovation,
training must support
the industrial development
of the Country, and the
universities must back
the companies for a growth
of knowledge.
Today, the primary mission
of university courses is
to have a true impact in their
territory and on the society
around them
EDUCATION / LUCE 327
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