Under One Sky Global Conference

More speakers to be announced!

Global Conference Opening Keynote

Jo Marchant is an award-winning science journalist and author of popular books including Decoding the Heavens and The Human Cosmos. Her writing explores the nature of humanity and our universe, from the mind-body connection to the mysteries of past civilisations and the awesome power of the night sky. This talk will explore the cultural importance of the sky – telling a story of how the Sun, Moon and stars have inspired and guided humanity since Palaeolithic times – and trace how our relationship with the stars has changed as we’ve built a scientific understanding of our universe and become more reliant on technologies from central heating to GPS. Jo will argue that alongside the elegant and powerful explanations of science, our physical, spiritual and ecological wellbeing depend on rediscovering a more personal connection with the cosmos in which we live.

Global Conference Closing Keynote

Babak Tafreshi is an Iranian-American science photographer, cinematographer, and National Geographic explorer based in Boston area. Since 2007, Tafreshi has directed The World at Night program with a team of photographers in 20 countries. The program’s mission to reveal the value of natural dark skies and impact of light pollution was captured through The World at Night, a book authored by Tafreshi and published in multiple languages. Tafreshi uses visual stories, timelapse motion, and virtual reality to create an understandable portal to wonders of Earth and sky. His work is recognized by the 2022 National Geographic Wayfinder Award, the Royal Photography Society Award for Scientific Imaging, and the 2009 Lennart Nilsson Award. In addition, the International Astronomical Union named the 2-km minor planet 276163 after Tafreshi.

Global Conference Opening

Ruskin Hartley joined DarkSky International as its executive director in 2019. Ruskin brings more than 20 years of conservation experience to guide DarkSky’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

Tom is a retired Washington, D.C., lawyer who spent most of his career representing airlines and railroads in labor and employment matters, including extensive experience translating scientific experts for lay decision-makers. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the Harvard Law School.

His environmental activism included a decade fighting water pollution with local riverkeeper organizations on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. In 2013, seeing the Andromeda Galaxy for the first time with his naked eyes from atop Kitt Peak rekindled an interest in astronomy and a desire to eliminate light pollution.

Currently residing in Northern Virginia, he and his wife Chris travel extensively in the Western United States seeking dark sky locations. For several years he has assisted DarkSky as a volunteer on legal and public policy issues at the national level.

Global Conference MC

Samyukta is an astrotourism consultant and the director of Noctia Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of natural dark skies. With a background in science communication, outreach, astrotourism, and experience design, Samyukta is interested in an interdisciplinary approach to dark sky conservation that integrates science with cultural and environmental preservation.

She received the Dark Sky Defender award from DarkSky in 2022, and is currently involved in the establishment of the Kenyan chapter of DarkSky.

More speakers to be announced soon!

Wuxi’s Youth Dark Sky Protection Actions

Since 2011, the Astronomical Society of the Jiangsu Tianyi High School has conducted practical exploration around “DarkSky Protection,” forming a popular science education model with a sequential curriculum design including popularization, academic and research courses. Popularization activities such as lectures and exhibitions are carried out mainly to develop students’ interest; the academic courses, including activities like teaching and observation, are primarily offered to consolidate professional knowledge; research activities such as luminous monitoring and remote sensing analysis are intended mainly to improve academic capabilities and cultivate reserve talents. Over the past decade, we have achieved remarkable results. A number of papers on “DarkSky Protection” have been published in SCI-indexed journals and other academic journals in China and internationally, and multiple related projects have won awards in academic competitions in China and abroad.

The Travelling Telescope Africa

The Travelling Telescope is a social enterprise dedicated to promoting science and  technology using astronomy tools and concepts. We take our computerised portable  telescope and mobile planetarium around Kenya and Tanzania educating the public  about our universe and emphasizing the importance of protecting our fragile planet.  We  focus  on  two  main  areas,  Education  and  Tourism.  We  also  recently  built  a  permanent  planetarium  with  the  dome  built  out  of  bamboo.  This  is  the  only  permanent planetarium in East Africa.  

We  partner  with  lodges  in  Kenya  and  provide  our  services  to  their  guests  as  an  added experince. Most lodges we visit are in rural areas with limited light polution,  we  hope  we  can  encourage  this  beautiful  dark  sky  resource  to  be  valued  and  preserved by communities and businesses around  these areas.  We also hope  that  we  can  encourage the  next  generation  of  leaders  to  value  the  natural  unpolluted  dark  skies  and  hopefully  make  informed  decisions  about  this  preservation  as  we  move towards more development.  

We  have  been  featured  on  CNN,  BBC,  Aljazeera  and  many  other  local  and  international  media  houses.  Please  visit  our  website  for  more  information:  www.travellingtelescope.co.uk

Dark Sky Images in NASA

Why All the Light We See Is Not the Light We Need

Activism Integration from México

More information on Engagement Workshops coming soon! 

Engagement Workshop Session: Astrotourism

Join us for an unforgettable journey into the cosmos as we explore the captivating world of astrotourism and the magic of dark skies. Our engaging workshop is designed to ignite your passion for stargazing, deepen your understanding of astrotourism’s significance, and empower you to protect and promote the preservation of dark skies through this incredible tool.

Sisco was born in Namibia, a country in Southern Africa which has one of the lowest population densities in the world, which lends itself to unpolluted, dark night skies. She holds a PhD in Tourism Development from the Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. She is currently a researcher at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). Her research interests are in Dark Sky Tourism, Indigenous Astronomy, and Community Development. She is working with the indigenous communities in Namibia to develop Dark Sky Tourism and bring awareness of the potential of this type of niche tourism to bring benefits to indigenous communities. She is a keen advocate for the preservation of the dark skies, a valuable resource for the sustainable development of Namibia. 

Ahmed Althaher is an amateur astronomer with Mechanical Engineering degree from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM).
Ahmed is an enthusiast with vast knowledge in many areas. During his study, he has been granted two patents for inventions that combine health with engineering in electronics devices, and luxury with the economy in consumable products, both of which were supported by KFUPM. As a multidisciplinary, Ahmed has many skills that consist of prototyping, ideas experimenting, product development, and patenting.

Eng. Ahmed has worked for The Arabian Robotics Company, where he managed the production of the first commercial batch of The Saudi Aramco Inspection Robot (SAIR) and gained experience in transferring products from the laboratory to the operational readiness level. He then worked for BAE Systems Saudi Arabia.

Equivalent to engineering, Ahmed is also passionate about astronomy and stargazing. About a decade ago, he started accompanying professional and academic astronomers during islamic crescent observations and astronomical phenomenon observations, like meteor showers and comet passages. Through his years of experience, he gained knowledge in astronomical observation methods and light pollution assessment, which makes him qualified to organize several interesting trips for stargazing and astronomical observation.

Eng. Ahmed is currently operating remarkable astronomical tourism by mixing both outdoor adventures and stargazing sessions at his small business; Judai Stargazing, which was designated as one of the most unique touring experiences in Saudi Arabia. Up to date, he delivered 34 stargazing sessions and 4 workshops in Astrotourism and Light Pollution Assessment in 6 cities around the kingdom. He also supported dark sky place program applicants in governmental and private sectors. In 2021, He was selected to be a Delegate of DarkSky International in Saudi Arabia. As of today, Eng. Ahmed is starting a new journey in astrotourism as he is joining Red Sea Global Company to design and lead Stargazing Experiences on the Red Sea Islands.

Engagement Workshop Session: Good Lighting Practice

Join us for a workshop dedicated to the principles and practices of dark sky lighting. This workshop will empower participants with the knowledge and skills to design and implement lighting solutions that not only reduce light pollution but also enhance safety, security, and aesthetics in our communities.

Stephen Hummel is the Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator with the University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory. Stephen works with communities, oil and gas companies, parks, governments, and other organizations in far western Texas to adopt better lighting practices and reduce light pollution. Stephen is committee chair for the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest certified Dark Sky Place in the world. In his spare time, Stephen is an award-winning photographer of the night sky and has been featured by National Geographic, NASA, Smithsonian Magazine, and more.

Engagement Workshop Session: Policy

Join our enlightening workshop on enacting dark sky policy, where we will delve into the critical realm of preserving natural nightscapes and combating light pollution. Join us for a comprehensive exploration of the policies and practices that can help safeguard our skies for generations to come.

David is an award-winning campaigner and environmental advocate. He has worked on a range of policy issues including plastic pollution, water quality, land use change and species recovery programmes. He currently works as Social Change and Advocacy Officer at Buglife – the Invertebrate Conservation Trust. David leads policy work to help save the small things that run the planet. His focus at the moment is on Invasive Non-Native Species, chemicals in freshwaters and light pollution. David is working to ensure that light pollution is recognised as an environmental pollutant with legally binding targets to lower pollution levels and relieve the pressure light pollution puts on the natural world.