Academia Series

Lightapalooza 2026 brings together leading university professors and researchers to deliver advanced technical education in lighting science and design—a level of academic rigor unprecedented in the custom integration industry. As integrators expand into lighting as a core service offering, understanding the scientific principles underlying design decisions becomes essential for differentiation and professional credibility. This distinguished faculty includes experts conducting cutting-edge research at major universities, offering attendees direct access to knowledge typically available only through graduate-level coursework. Sessions address foundational and advanced topics including circadian-effective lighting and its measurable impact on human health, sleep, and alertness across different life stages, spectral power distribution and color rendering evaluation using CRI and TM-30 metrics, photometric measurement techniques and data interpretation for design validation, optical engineering fundamentals that determine beam quality and fixture performance, the psychological and physiological value of lighting in residential environments, evidence-based design strategies grounded in peer-reviewed research, and the evolving science of how lighting influences what we see and how we feel in our homes. Through real-world case studies and practical application of theoretical concepts, attendees gain both the scientific vocabulary and analytical frameworks to elevate their professional practice. This track bridges the gap between intuitive design decisions and scientifically validated methodologies, offering university-level instruction in lighting science and human-centric design unavailable at any other custom integration education event.