History

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) was founded in 1906 to establish scientific lighting recommendations and disseminate this information to all interested parties. It is the recognized authority on lighting in North America. The Society's diversified membership includes engineers, architects, lighting designers, educators, students, contractors, distributors, utility personnel, scientists, and manufacturers. There are approximately 9,000 individual members and 400 Sustaining or Corporate members in the IESNA. The Society has over 70 technical, research, and design and applications committees to study and report on all aspects of lighting. There are over 100 IESNA Sections in the United States, Canada and Mexico and hundreds of members from countries around the world.  

Just What is IESNA

The IESNA is the recognized technical authority on illumination. For over 100 years its objective has been to communicate information on all aspects of good lighting practice to its members, to the lighting community, and to consumers through a variety of programs, publications, and services. The strength of the IESNA is its diversified membership: engineers, architects, designers, educators, students, contractors, distributors, utility personnel, manufacturers, and scientists, all contributing to the mission of the Society: to advance knowledge and disseminate information for the improvement of the lighted environment to the benefit of society.

The IESNA is a forum for the exchange of ideas and information and a vehicle for its members’ professional development and recognition. Through its technical committees, with hundreds of qualified members from the lighting and user communities, the IESNA correlates research, investigations, and discussions to guide lighting experts and laypersons via consensus based lighting recommendations.

The Society publishes nearly 100 varied publications including recommended practices on a variety of applications, design guides, technical memoranda, and publications on energy management and lighting measurement. The Society, in addition, works cooperatively with related organizations on a variety of programs and in the production of jointly published documents and standards.

In addition, the Society publishes Lighting Design + Application (LD+A) and LEUKOS The Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. LD+A is a popular application-oriented monthly magazine. Every issue contains special feature articles and news of practical and innovative lighting layouts, systems, equipment and economics, and news of the industry. LEUKOS contains technical papers, most of which are presented at the Society’s Annual Conference. IESNA has a strong education program with basic and intermediate level courses and seminars offered through its Sections.

The Society has two types of membership: individual and sustaining. Applications and current dues schedules are available upon request from the Membership Department. IESNA local, regional, and international meetings, conferences, symposia, seminars, workshops, and lighting exhibitions (LIGHTFAIR INTERNATIONAL) provide current information on the latest developments in illumination

 

GET INVOLVED!

Join an IESNA committee and work closely with other lighting professionals. It's a great opportunity to network, give back to the industry, and have fun! For more information contact IES Albuquerque Section.

Billy Tubb

President of the IES Albuquerque Section

btubb@unm.edu