Human sensitivity to short-wavelength light in non-image-forming vision: Toward a mechanistic understanding of the impact of blue light on sleep and circadian rhythms (360G-Wellcome-204686_Z_16_C)

Measurement and characterisation of light — whether it is in everyday contexts or in experimental and research settings — is notoriously non-trivial. Part of this is due to the complexity of the underlying concepts (e.g. measurement geometry, propagation of light in space). The goal of this Research Enrichment activity is to make the characterisation of light and its derived quantities (luminance, chromaticity, alpha-opic quantities relevant for melanopsin-mediated signaling) more accessible using a free and open-access web-based platform for uploading, visualising, analysing and comparing data about light using a modern user-friendly graphical interface running directly in the browser. The lightbox education and research platform is targeted to three main audiences: (1) Researchers in the fields of visual neuroscience, vision science, experimental psychology, and visual chronobiology who use light as interventions, but wish to fully understand the effects of light on human behaviour and physiology; (2) Practitioners wishing to predict the effect of light on the human eye and circadian system; (3) Students and educators in the fields who wish to learn the basics of light, colorimetry, and photometry using an intuitive interface. The lightbox platform will supplement my ongoing research programme on the effects of light on human circadian rhythms and sleep by increasing the impact of the analysis and visualisation tools I have developed as part of my research, and also of my research itself. Sustainable and continued use of the research beyond the scope of my own project is guaranteed after the funding period ends.