Night Sky Conservation
I currently serve as Indiana's Dark Sky Delegate, engaging people in conversations about light pollution effects, mitigation strategies, and environmental policy through local advocacy work, public education and outreach, conservation, and research support.
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I can offer recommendations on outdoor lighting, support municipalities with developing night-friendly lighting code, and assist with the certification of dark sky parks and protected areas.
See below for more information on light pollution and night sky conservation, and reach out if you're interested in collaborating or want support with a project or program!
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Why are dark skies important?
The nighttime environment is important across all levels and scales of our ecosystem to help maintain our circadian rhythms.
For humans, this is important for the regulation of our hormone cycles, and exposure to artificial light at night can suppress melatonin production, impacting our sleep and other aspects of our health. For some animals and insects, celestial cues are utilized for navigation and migration, and many pollinators are active at night supporting our food systems and helping to regulate our ecosystems.
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The stars and night sky play a significant role in many knowledge systems and traditions around the world, and the spread of light pollution is detrimental to these practices. One insightful paper that speaks to this cultural erasure is ‘Whitening the Sky: light pollution as a form of cultural genocide’ by Duane W. Hamacher, Krystal de Napoli, Bon Mott.
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Dark, starry skies also connect us to our ancestors, to each other, and to ourselves, inspiring us to create, connect, and get curious about what is beyond and how we fit into the bigger picture.
How can I get involved?
Globe at Night is a data hub where folks can input their own readings on local night sky brightness levels. In addition to individual contributions, organizations can install Sky Quality Meters to contribute more consistent information to this database.
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For anyone involved in research, you can contribute to the growing Artificial Light at Night Research database. You can also get involved with DarkSky directly by becoming a local advocate or delegate.
