DVN: Could you first present your activity. How many students and PhD candidates do you have?
Pr. Khanh: In the lecture series “general lighting” we have about 38 Master’s degree students and in the very new lecture series “automotive lighting” 35 students.
I have in my department 16 scientific members (Ph.D. students and Post-docs).
DVN: How has ISAL attendance trended since your arrival at TUD?
Pr. Khanh: In my first ISAL conference 2007, we had 550 participants and the first car with LED headlamps (Audi R8); in 2009 with a crisis period for the international automotive industry we had 450. In 2013 about 685 and now in 2015 about 811 participants, plus over 30 exhibitors.
DVN: Congratulations are in order for such a big increase in attendance this year! How do you explain it?
Pr Khanh: I can point out 2 main reasons:
1. The lighting technology is now generally a key technology for a car, the face of each new car and the focus in the activities of automakers and suppliers. In order to solve this task, the industry needs more technical and human power and we have automatically more participants;
2. Vehicle lighting is now an important part of the integrated safety strategy for a car and is becoming digital—more software, sensors, control electronics and power electronics, etc. This expands the lighting infrastructure, so new companies with software and electronic background come to ISAL.
DVN: The organisation of this year’s congress was excellent. What are you proud about and what will you improve next time?