The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has launched a new membership category for universities, which will give students enrolled in a lighting design program at a participating post-secondary institution free access to the professional society’s archived research materials, known as the Lighting Library. Students and faculty of member universities will also qualify for discounted registration fees for IES conferences and seminars.

“This new membership was created to support and inspire the next generation of lighting professionals,” says Tim Licitra, IES executive director. “By facilitating an early exposure to IES membership offerings, students can engage in professional forums and leverage industry resources that ultimately help advance their careers and support their professional growth.”

Post-secondary institutions that offer dedicated lighting programs or lighting-related curriculum within other engineering, design and technical programs are eligible for membership. Annual dues will be collected in August, in advance of the academic year, opening up lighting design resources for incoming students.

That will include access to all IES standards as they are revised and expanded. Notably, an updated version of the 2010 IES Lighting Handbook is pending, and will be available in an online searchable format.

Thus far, four universities — three in the United States and one in Mexico — have signed on to the program, which formally opened for membership on August 1. Licitra notes that it aligns with the IES mission statement: “To improve the lighted environment by bringing together those with lighting knowledge and by translating that knowledge into actions that benefit the public.”