A Brilliant Idea: Nick Holonyak, Jr. and the LED

Nick Holonyak, Jr. is called the godfather of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. We interact with Holonyak's inventions every day. The technology in visible LEDs, household dimmer switches, lasers that run CD and DVD players and fiber-optic communication networks can all be traced back to his laboratory at the University of Illinois. Holonyak is the son of immigrants and was raised in southern Illinois. He left back-breaking work on the Illinois Central Railroad to become the first in his family to attend school. Holonyak, who is now in his 80s, is still inventing and performing research in his lab at the College of Engineering. He is currently working on a "transistor laser," which is the first device that simultaneously outputs electrical current and light. This program also includes information about the Engineering Open House, Concrete Canoe Racing at Illinois, and why students choose Engineering at Illinois.