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Understanding Light
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:31:04
Abstract
The seminar explores light from the perspectives of Physics and Art, opening up new dimensions for collaboration across disciplines by tackling questions such as: What is the origin and nature of light? How does it travel through space and time? How can it be made productive in an artistic sense and what, in turn, can artistic methodologies contribute to experimenting and thinking about light?
Objective
- Learn about the properties of light: intensities, phases, colors, and interactions with matter - Exploring optical effects: reflection, refraction, dispersion - Learn to plan and carry out an art project based on research inputs from other sciences - Enhancing conceptual and interdisciplinary thinking in unusual set-ups - Learn how to cope with unforeseen results and make random events productive for the successful implementation of a project - Fostering communication and presentation skills
Content
In this course, we will set a performative frame for experimentation and exploration. Coupled with experiments in the Dep. of Physics, students will be introduced to concepts such as the origin of light and color, and the interpretation of the optical world that surrounds us to understand what actually gives rise to the effects we see everyday—from butterfly wings and autumn colors to the appearance of buildings and cities. In addition, we will perform practical experiments with basic optical components like lenses, mirrors, and prisms, in order to understand how they can be used to capture images. Inputs by guest lecturers (e.g. on light in photography, anthropology or urban landscapes) are planned. Students will be asked to present related topics. At the end of the semester, the artistic experiments will be presented.
Resources
Learning Materials (Links)
- Main link
- Information
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Signup End
- 26.09.2024
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
Understanding Light
Permission from lecturers required for all students.
Lecturer approval required for all students. Please send a letter of motivation (max. 300 words) to
by 05.09.2024. The number of participants is limited to 15. The course will be held in English in the Fall Semester 2024.
No course on 24.10 (seminar week) and in the last two weeks of the semester.
The course takes place in HIL F47
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2 h weekly |
Offered In
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General Electives (Students may choose General Electives from the entire course programme of ETH Zurich - with the following restrictions: courses that belong to the first or second year of a Bachelor curriculum at ETH Zurich as well as courses from GESS "Science in Perspective" are not eligible here. The following courses are explicitly recommended to physics students by their lecturers. (Courses in this list may be assigned to the category "General Electives" directly in myStudies. For the category assignment of other eligible courses keep the choice "no category" and take contact with the Study Administration ( ) after having received the credits.))
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