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LIGHTING RESEARCH CENTER AWARDS FIRST COLOR KINETICS SCHOLARSHIP IN LIGHTING
Pioneer of Full Spectrum Digital Lighting Funds Scholarship for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Graduate Student to Further the Technical Progress of the Lighting Industry
BOSTON — September 28, 2000 — Color Kinetics, the pioneer of full spectrum digital lighting, and the Lighting Research Center (LRC) of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., today announce that Melina Simeonova, a second-year graduate student enrolled in the MS in Lighting program at Rensselaer is the recipient of the first Color Kinetics Scholarship in Lighting. Simeonova, a licensed architect in both Bulgaria and the U.S. with over 20 years experience in commercial, urban and historical preservation projects, was chosen by the Graduate Education Committee of the LRC to be the first-ever recipient of the scholarship after submitting a detailed thesis proposal investigating the use of solid-state, colored lighting to light retail displays.
Simeonova's research will compare the conventional method of lighting retail visual displays through luminance modulation, a technique that uses varying intensities of white light, with a new technique utilizing colored lighting. "With my research, I hope to show how color can be expanded over all aspects of life, including work, home, health care, and retail," explains Simeonova.
Simeonova, a native of Bulgaria who came to the United States in 1991 and earlier this year became a U.S. citizen, has always been interested in color and its effects on emotional and physical well-being. As an accomplished architect in her homeland, as well as in the U.S., she crafted a vision for enhancing architectural spaces and changing ambiance through lighting techniques. According to Simeonova, "Architecture is more focused on materials and the building, not people and the personality of the space. I believe in order to keep things interesting, we need to change the ambiance of the physical space, which can easily be done through light and color." This vision led Simeonova to the Masters in Lighting program at the LRC, and the Color Kinetics Scholarship in Lighting. Simeonova's many industry association involvements include: the national executive committee for the architectural section of the Scientific Expeditions Club (Bulgaria); the Intern Society of the Color Council; the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA); and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). Certified by the National Council of Architecture Review Board (NCARB), Simeonova received her undergraduate and master's degrees in architecture from the University of Bulgaria, and her architect license from the state of California.
"We're absolutely delighted to have the first Color Kinetics Scholarship in Lighting awarded to such an accomplished and enthusiastic student," says George Mueller, President and CEO of Color Kinetics. "Our goal in establishing the Color Kinetics Scholarship in Lighting was to attract the best and brightest talent to the lighting industry to continue the exciting technical advancements we've seen in recent years. And, in the talented and capable hands of students of Milena's caliber, I'm confident the technical progress of this industry will continue to advance at a rapid pace," he adds.
The Color Kinetics Scholarship in Lighting is the only scholarship to be offered at the LRC that is solely devoted to supporting the research and advancement of solid-state lighting technology. Each year, Color Kinetics will fund a research assistantship to support a student's thesis work in solid-state lighting, in addition to providing the recipient's full second-year tuition. In order to be eligible, candidates must be enrolled in their second year of study in the MS in Lighting program at the LRC, and submit a detailed thesis proposal.
By using solid-state, digital technology, Color Kinetics has developed an entirely new way of creating colored light and colored lighting effects. Color Kinetics is leading the lighting industry into the digital age with its patented Chromacore® technology, which uses microprocessor-controlled multi-colored LEDs to generate 16.7 million colors and a variety of colored lighting effects. The company's cutting-edge technology and innovative products have been embraced by lighting designers, architects, retail store designers and other professionals within the lighting industry. With The Color Kinetics Scholarship in Lighting, the company hopes to continue leading the charge of technical advancements it has spurred, furthering the technical progress of the lighting industry.
About Color Kinetics
Color Kinetics Incorporated is the pioneer of intelligent solid-state illumination technologies. The company designs, manufactures and markets an award-winning line of products that apply the practical and aesthetic benefits of LEDs to transcend the limits of traditional light sources for use in professional, consumer, and OEM and licensing applications. Its flagship line of technologies leverage a patented layer of digital intelligence, called Chromacore®, to generate and control millions of colors and dynamic lighting effects. Color Kinetics leads the industry in solid-state lighting innovation, including the custom engineered Chromasic® microchip, and holds a growing patent portfolio encompassing a number of emerging digital technologies. Founded in 1997, the company is privately held and is headquartered in Boston, MA with offices in the UK, China, and a joint venture in Japan. More information can be found at http://www.colorkinetics.com.
About the Lighting Research Center
The LRC, an interdisciplinary center of 40 professionals devoted to lighting excellence, is part of the School of Architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, offering the world's only MS in Lighting. The LRC's mission is to advance the effective use of light, creating a positive legacy for society and the environment.
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