Global Conference Opening

Ruskin Hartley joined the International Dark-Sky Association as its executive director in 2019. Ruskin brings more than 20 years of conservation experience to guide IDA’s work to protect the night sky. Ruskin has spent his career directing and managing conservation programs that protect the nation’s land, water, and ocean resources–from primeval forests to the iconic beaches of Southern California.

Global Conference Opening

Diane began to advocate for the reduction of light pollution by connecting policymakers with night preservation advocates within South Dakota, founding an International Dark Sky Chapter in South Dakota, U.S. The chapter coordinates events in the Black Hills (Paha Sapa), such as the Mickelson Star Trail nights and city-wide dark sky festivals. Diane earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health Education from the University of Nebraska. As a business owner of night-friendly businesses and an involved parent, Diane brings business and leadership experience. Although she has two post-secondary degrees, Diane still believes some of her best education still comes from connecting with others under a sky full of stars. She finds Psalm 19 rings true,“….night after night they (heavens) reveal knowledge.” Diane wants all to remember that a portion of our time belongs under a star-filled sky, even if it’s simply to get a good night’s sleep.

Day and Night, Life and Light

Lisa Heschong is a Fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and a proud member of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) local chapter in Santa Cruz, California. Trained both as an architect and ecologist, she has spent her career making connections between human experience and our built environment. After years of leading research on the energy performance of buildings, especially concerning lighting and daylighting design, she more recently turned her attention to how buildings impact our health and well-being. This talk will focus on how day and night are very different design conditions, yet they are two sides of the same coin intimately tied to our fundamental evolutionary physiology. Lisa will explore how healthier daytime environments influence healthier nights and vice versa.

In Conversation: Astronaut Nicole Stott and Tim Russ

Nicole is a veteran NASA Astronaut with two spaceflights and 104 days living and working in space as a crewmember on both the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle. Personal highlights of her time in space include performing a spacewalk (10th woman to do so), flying the robotic arm to capture the first Japanese cargo ship, working with her international crew in support of the multi-disciplinary science onboard the orbiting laboratory, painting a watercolor in space (now on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum), and of course the life-changing view of our home planet. Nicole will join us for a discussion with Mike Simmons (IDA Board of Directors) and entertainment industry veteran and visual astronomy enthusiast Tim Russ about what her transformative view of our home planet from space taught her about Earth and our mission to protect it. 

In Conversation: Astronaut Nicole Stott and Tim Russ

Tim Russ has been working within the entertainment industry for over thirty-five years. His talents encompass a broad spectrum of the performing arts, including composing, music (guitar & vocals), acting, writing, directing, voice-over, and producing. Mr. Russ received his B.S. in Theater at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX, and completed one year of post-graduate work in theater at Illinois State University. As an actor, Mr. Russ has worked in a cross-section of feature film and television, including “Karma,” “5th Passenger,” “Live Free or Die Hard,” “Spaceballs,”  series regular roles on “The Highwayman,” “The People Next Door,” “Star Trek Voyager,” “Samantha Who,”  and “iCarly.” He also has a passion for visual astronomy. Tim will join our Global Close conversation with Nicole Stott and Mike Simmons (IDA Board of Directors), offering the unique perspective of someone who has represented humanity’s exploration of space in science fiction and through telescopes and deals with the reality of light pollution.

Dark Skies and Light Pollution: An Art-Historical Approach

Valerie Shrimplin is Senior Research Associate at Gresham College London, having studied at the Universities of Bristol, Manchester, and the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg). She has lectured and published widely on the influence of astronomy and cosmology on art and architecture, particularly of the Byzantine, Medieval, and Renaissance periods. This presentation will focus on how the sight and contemplation of stars, planets, and galaxies have inspired religions, philosophies, myths, and stories and consideration of visual images of the sky over time provides a basis for protecting the Dark Sky.

Light Pollution, why so mysterious? (Quantifying the knowledge on the ABC-islands)

Jairo Vrolijk is an electrical engineer, an avid astrophotographer, and as of 2018, the co-founder and current president of Space & Nature Aruba Foundation, an astronomy and general science organization on the island of Aruba. Aruba has become a large tourist haven in recent years, with an estimated 2 million people visiting yearly. About 50% of those tourists travel from large cities where light pollution is significant. Gazing into the night sky here in Aruba, they are amazed and in awe. Unfortunately, light pollution is still unknown within our community, and the value it can present is still not prioritized. This presentation will briefly illustrate some steps we, as advocates, have taken while gauging the knowledge about the topic within our community.

How our Dark Sky Initiative has become a source for design creativity

Myriam Patricia Lopez Yanez was born in Ecuador and currently lives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She holds a graduate degree in Architecture from Ecuador and a Master’s Degree in Architectural Lighting Design from Germany. Myriam has completed her postgraduate studies becoming a Harvard Business School Alumni in 2022. She has practiced lighting design in Europe and the Middle East for over 17 years. She now holds the position of Lighting Design Director at the PIF’s The Red Sea Development Company and Amaala in KSA. The Red Sea Development Company has been applying Dark Sky Guidelines in big-scale Hospitality Development Projects, which has proven to be very challenging and rewarding at the same time. The lighting expectations and requirements of guests and operators must be constantly balanced with those of their wildlife. This can only be done with a strategic approach to lighting that considers the practical and functional side, with the environmental effects on sensitive species, and of course, the aesthetics and design. This talk will share the lessons learned and inspiring results of their design work.

How Thailand Got Their First National Dark Sky Sites

Wiwat Changtraku is an independent translator and ex-journalist based in Chaiyaphum province, Thailand. Since 2018, he began advocating for dark skies by building an online community, and by 2022 the first twelve national dark sky places were recognized, including three in his province. In this talk, Wiwat will share how after stumbling upon a potential dark sky site, he taught himself astrophotography and became an advocate for the protection of this site which coincided with a government astronomy organization’s initiative to do the same at the national level. Additionally, it will cover how Wiwat leveraged social media to help raise awareness about dark sky conservation.

Involving our Youth in Fighting for Darker Skies

Biraj is currently a high school senior. His love for astronomy and stargazing stemmed from when he went stargazing with relatives during his childhood in Nepal. However, he noticed that he couldn’t see the same constellations and sky that he could see in Nepal in the United States. After researching the topic and learning about IDA, he has been working hard on addressing light pollution by creating education outreach programs, writing articles, and researching the negative impacts of light pollution on our health. This talk will focus on involving the youth in the dark sky movement by showing the younger generations exactly what light pollution is and its negative consequences so they will continue in our footsteps in fighting this issue.

How Light Pollution is Not a Pollution in Bangladesh

Rubaiat is an amateur astronomer and astrophotographer having a daily habit of waving “hi” to the moon and the planets! He is the founding president of his university astronomy club IUT Al-Fazari Interstellar Society, an organization dedicated to nurturing brilliant minds and spreading basic space science knowledge. Being fond of darkness, he loves to show his peers the starry sky and twinkling stars only by turning down the light and urging them to look up to wonder. He will discuss how initiators will convince people against the unnecessary use of lights. Attendees will hear stories of his club’s journey in the last two years, their efforts, obstacles faced, and tips for approaching the local government of South Asian countries. Also, he will discuss an unconventional idea to establish Dark Sky Parks in hilly areas of Bangladesh. Including his amateur astrophotography experiences and insights on how not to be disturbed by clouds and light pollution in a crowded tropical city, participants will get a unique overview of light pollution in this part of the world.

Toward a National Light Pollution Norm for Chile

Pedro Andrés Sanhueza is the  Director of the Office for the Protection of the Night Sky of Northern Chile (OPCC), created 22 years ago by the former National Commission for the Environment (currently Ministry of Environment), the AURA observatory, CARSO, and ESO. More recently, the GMTO joined this effort. Previously, he was in charge of the creation of the Regional Office of the Environment in the Coquimbo Region. This talk will focus on the new norm for protecting the night sky, and its emphasis is shifting toward environmental protection, with main restrictions being fully shielded fixtures of outdoor street lighting, industries, road lighting, billboards, and sport facilities.

The Archipelago Sieged by Light Pollution and Dark Sky as a Strategy: The Matsu Story

Axiou is a dedicated dark sky advocate and the Chairperson of the Taiwan dark sky association (TDA), head of IDA’s Taiwan chapter, and a member of IDA’s International Committee (2021-2022). In his presentation, Axiou will share how the local people and government of Matsu, Taiwan (located on the front lines of geopolitical and lighting intrusion) launched a dark sky program to protect the tranquility of the night and redefine the new value in this dire strait.

The Night Sky Through Navajo Eyes

Ravis Henry belongs to the Towering House Clan and is born for the Coyote Pass-Jemez Clan of the Navajo Tribe. He originates from a place called Alamo, New Mexico, but was born, raised, and still resides in Canyon de Chelly/Chinle, Arizona. Currently, Ravis is a Park Ranger with the National Park Service and has been working in the green and grey since 2009, mostly all at Canyon de Chelly National Monument. He works in the field of Interpretation and Education, sharing the stories and history of his people with visitors from around the world. Ravis is a Traditional Knowledge holder and storyteller for his people, and he’s learning the ancient ceremonial ways of the Navajo. He is also an artist/silversmith, creating pieces inspired by the stories of the land and his people. In this presentation, Ravis will introduce the Navajo perspective of the night sky, briefly sharing the stories of how the stars came to be by the acts of the Deities and the Coyote. He will also introduce the Navajo constellations, along with the stories and teachings behind the individual constellations as they are understood by the Navajo People. 

Engagement Workshop Session #1: Community Engagement Panel

Engaging your community is crucial to building the momentum necessary to enact change. Learn from the on-the-ground experiences of dark sky advocates who leveraged community engagement to change lighting practices for the better. This conversation will be hosted by Kerem Asfuroglu, a prominent lighting designer who uses art and creativity to achieve lasting results. Joining him is Wayne Gosnell, a Texas-based Advocate who runs a successful dark sky-friendly business award and lightbulb exchange program.  Additionally, the panel includes Lya Shaffer Osborn, a multidisciplinary designer and an advocate for design justice, to speak to light justice. We will also hear from Steve Evers, who will bring his unique perspective as a volunteer in the local county government in Utah, U.S., to advocacy, governance, and follow-through.

Kerem Asfuroglu is the founder of Dark Source, a London-based lighting design studio driven by social and environmental values. Following his graduation from Wismar University – Architectural Lighting Design MA, Kerem has worked at Speirs + Major as a senior member of the creative team for 8 years. Throughout his career, he has won several design awards, including Red Dot, Vox Juventa, PLDC and LAMP. Kerem specializes in dark sky-friendly lighting design for the urban and rural public realm. In 2017, he was awarded the title of Dark Sky Defender by the International Dark-Sky Association for advocating the importance of darkness through design. Some of his environmental lighting projects include the Plas Y Brenin Outdoor Centre, Presteigne Dark Sky Masterplan, Newport Dark Sky Masterplan, Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Clwydian Range & Dee Valley, and Dark Sky Planning Guidelines for Cumbria.

Lya Shaffer Osborn is a multidisciplinary designer, writer, and advocate for design justice. She is a co-founder of LightJustice.org, a community resource for addressing the social impact of lighting. She also serves as the North America Regional Director for Unolai Lighting Design, where for the past seven years, she has contributed to a wide range of projects and award-winning design efforts on both sides of the Pacific. Lya received a double M.F.A. in Lighting Design and Interior Design from Parsons The New School for Design, where her thesis work challenged the industry norms and incentives that have long defined a designer’s role in community and proposed alternative modes of improving accessibility of design resources to the historically underserved. Lya is a member of the International Association of Lighting Designers and the Illuminating Engineering Society and is Community Friendly Lighting Certified.

Wayne Gosnell is a retired United States Army colonel who lives in Blanco, Texas, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.  He holds a Ph.D. in Communications and is the founder and President of the Blanco County (Texas) Friends of the Night Sky. He is a firm believer in the philosophy of Dr. Suess — “Sometimes the problems are complicated, but the solutions are simple.”  He seeks common-sense solutions to complicated problems. At night sky preservation presentations, he is often heard to say, “Of all the forms of pollution mankind has foisted on the Earth, light pollution is the easiest and cheapest to fix…and it can be done in our own lifetime.” 

Steve Evers is the Executive Director of the Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks. A former international guide and instructor of various outdoor activities, he is familiar with the night sky in both hemispheres. He resides in Moab, Utah, where he enjoys all things outdoors. As a volunteer in the local county government, he brings a unique perspective to advocacy, governance, and follow-through.

Engagement Workshop Session #2: International Dark Sky Places

Are you interested in learning more about IDA’s International Dark Sky Places program? Hear from people who have gone through the application process. They’ll tell you how they did it, what challenges they overcame, and what benefits they have seen since certification. IDA’s Dark Sky Places Committee Chair, Dan Oakley, who spearheaded the South Downs International Dark Sky Place application, will host the panel. Joining him will be Johanne Roby, who got the most recent Urban Night Sky Place designation in Canada. Additionally, we will hear from Sabine Frank, who worked with Fulda, our largest designated International Dark Sky Community, and Eleanor Muller, who works with the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park in South Africa.

Eleanor Muller is an accidental Dark Sky Advocate, a marketing professional with the team that walked the path to creating South Africa’s !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park’s International Dark Sky Sanctuary. It’s been ten years since George Tucker of the IDA first promoted the idea, and Eleanor will reflect on how the certification process is an education in its own right, their successes, and some unexpected results of the IDA’s requirements. In addition, she will share her passion for building strong support for a cultural astronomy capacity that promotes the wisdom of the local San community. Also, she’ll explain the exclamation marks.

Johanne Roby is a chemistry professor and light pollution researcher at the Cégep de Sherbrooke. She has developed expertise in the field of public and domestic lighting as well as their effects on the nocturnal environment and human health. n collaboration with his students and Mr. Martin Aubé, also a professor-researcher at the Cégep de Sherbrooke, they are designing a spectral database of all types of artificial lighting. Ms. Roby is also working on the creation of light pollution maps to compare light pollution before and after the creation of the first International Dark Sky Reserve at Mont-Mégantic.

Sabine is the coordinator and star gazing guide of Rhön Biosphere Reserve, also known as Biosphärenreservat Rhön, and with Sabine’s help, Rhön was certified in 2014 as an International Dark Sky Reserve donning the new name “Sternenpark (Star Park) Rhön.” She works for the county of Fulda, which became the largest International Dark Sky Community in 2019, where she is an active Dark Sky advocate and gives presentations about light pollution and what strategies to use to fight it. 

Engagement Workshop Session #3: Policy Panel

Join us for an engaging and interactive conversation about how policy can be an instrument for change to reduce light pollution and promote awareness of the value of dark skies in your community. The panel will be hosted by Yana Yakushina, a lawyer and researcher for the legal protection of dark skies. We’ll learn from Amy Oliver, an expert in leveraging proclamations and media for dark sky conservation, Diane Turnshek, who has experience with urban night sky reclamation through ordinances, measurement, and retrofits, and Anna Pasková from the Czech Republic, about the EU wide initiative to regulate light pollution and promote dark sky conservation.

Diane’s research focuses on measuring the light of cities with drones, aircraft, satellites, and astronauts aboard the International Space Station for use in designing ordinances for the reduction of light pollution, for example, Pittsburgh’s 2021 Dark Sky Ordinances. She teaches astronomy at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. She earned an International Dark Sky Association’s Defender Award and founded the Pennsylvania chapter of IDA. She has given over one hundred light pollution talks (including one for TEDxPittsburgh), curated a series of space art galleries, and is the editor of the genre anthology Triangulation: Dark Skies with twenty-one starry night short stories. She has recently been interviewed by the New York Times, PBSNewsHour, NPR Morning Edition, Canada One Radio, Chinese Global Television Network, Newsy.com, NBC, Sky & Telescope, and dozens more news outlets worldwide. Diane started in Pittsburgh in 1981, where she coordinates the long-standing astronomy lecture series at Pitt’s Allegheny Observatory. She instituted a summer CMU light pollution undergraduate research class called SKYGLOW and hosted a CMU Dark Skies Conference. She is a committee member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) B7–Inter-Division B-C Commission Protection of Existing and Potential Observatory Sites and an affiliated member of the new IAU Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Sate.

Anna Pasková is the Director of the Department of Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development at the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic. She graduated from the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University and the United Nations University in Environmental Security. In the past, she gained experience at the US Foundation for Environmental Security and Sustainability, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. She has been working at the Ministry of the Environment for ten years and is responsible for the coordination of cross-cutting national strategies such as the Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development Czech Republic 2030, the State Environmental Policy of the Czech Republic, and the National Action Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change. She is also responsible for publications evaluating the state of the environment and sustainable development, support for clean mobility, regulatory impact assessments, application of the DNSH (do no significant harm) principle, or light pollution.