Blogs

Every year on the 16th May, the world celebrates the International Day of Light, formally established by UNESCO, highlighting the fundamental role of light-based technologies in advancing science and innovation. It invites people worldwide to get involved in activities that highlight how science, technology, art, and culture contribute to UNESCO’s aims, such as promoting education,…

The CORNERSTONE Public Engagement Team, in collaboration with partners in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southampton and IntoUniversity recently hosted another interactive STEAM workshop for Year 8 pupils from Regents Park Community College.   This workshop was part of our ongoing public engagement programme, which aims to build skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm in physics and photonics, helping to encourage a…

On Saturday 14th March, the CORNERSTONE Public Engagement Team took part in Science and Engineering Day 2026 at the University of Southampton, bringing hands-on photonics activities to families, students, and attendees across the campus.  For this year’s event, CORNERSTONE piloted a new outreach activity designed to help visualise the concept of silicon photonics waveguides: the…

The Cornerstone Public Engagement Team, in collaboration with partners in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Southampton, recently hosted an interactive STEAM workshop for pupils from Redbridge Community School, blending hands-on creativity with scientific exploration. STEAM—standing for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics—encourages students to learn by doing, connecting ideas across disciplines in a…

This winter, the CORNERSTONE Public Engagement Team joined the magical Light Up Trails, an interactive art experience. This year’s theme is ‘Enchanted’ — a magical after-dark trail filled with light, atmospheric sound, and a festive feel. As visitors wandered through the glowing artworks, we walked the paths with them, sharing little bursts of photonics along…

The Southampton Cultural Quarter came alive during this year’s Arts & Humanities Festival, where Emily joined the Optics and Photonics Society (OpSoc) for their Play with Scientists and Light activity day. On Saturday 8 November, the CORNERSTONE Public Engagement Team brought colour, curiosity, and hands-on learning to the festival with a new Silicon Photonics Chip…

Earlier July 2025, we had the pleasure of joining the Physics Partners Teachers’ Festival at Winchester College—a fantastic one-day event bringing together physics teachers, technicians and educators from across the UK. Set in the beautiful grounds of Winchester College, the festival gave us the opportunity to speak directly with teachers about the real-world applications of photonics—and…