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Arch PhD student Ute Besenecker wins EMPAC’S Jaffe Student Production Competition

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PhD in Architectural Sciences candidate Ute Besenecker and her small undergraduate research team recently completed a study called, “Beyond Appearances: Investigating Preference and Neural Correlates for Colored Light of Similar Chromaticity” as a part of the Jaffe Student Production Competition at EMPAC. Besenecker’s study, based on the assumption that usage of LED light will soon become more prevalent than usage of incandescent bulbs, explores different ways of mixing light to create particular hues. This research was meant to determine whether or not test subjects could detect the difference between lighting environments that were mixed from different sources. Besenecker used qualitative feedback from subjects as well as equipment that measures brain activity and heart rate in an effort to determine optimal mixes of colors to prevent negative effects for users such as decreased attention span or increased irritability. Besenecker sees her work as the beginning of something larger and hopes the data produced by this study will help architects and theatrical designers better utilize recently developed LED mixing techniques.

The opportunity to conduct this research at EMPAC was unique and beneficial. With the use of the Studio 1 black box, Besenecker was able to conduct an architectural-scale study. Most lighting research is conducted in labs and light boxes which do not create immersive environments.

Besenecker is one of two Rensselaer students to be selected to conduct research at EMPAC supported and funded by the Jaffe Student Production Competition after an open application process that began in fall 2014. Her current research is associated with the School of Architecture and the Center for Cognition, Communication and Culture. For more information, see links below.

Source: www.insiderensselaer.com/jaffe-student-production-competition

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