Alumni Events
Continue your education for free
With the Alumni Association's Wine and Cheese evening
(BYO wine and cheese)
Thursday 13th May 2021
18:30 - 20:00 GMT
Jessica Heim
Dark Sky Initiatives in Central Idaho: Community Experiences with Dark Skies and Dark Sky Advocacy
Throughout human history, people around the world were able to see dark, starry night skies. However, due to light pollution, a significant and increasing portion of our planet's inhabitants can no longer experience such skies. The rapid implementation of LED technology in outdoor lighting has generally increased rather than reduced human impact on the nighttime environment. However, 'dark sky friendly' LEDs are available, and some communities have decided to utilize them in their municipal lighting installations.
This presentation will discuss the experiences of dark sky advocates in the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve and will explore the process of implementing a 'dark sky friendly' LED streetlight retrofit in Stanley, Idaho. In addition, it will examine community responses to changes in lighting, starry night skies, and efforts to maintain the natural nighttime environment in the region.
Jessica Heim received her MA from UWTSD in 2020. In her dissertation research, she studied community experiences with dark sky initiatives and 'dark sky friendly' LED streetlights. Her research interests involve exploring human connections with sky and land, with a particular focus on dark skies and the outer space environment. Jessica is cultural astronomy editor at the newly launched Journal of Dark Sky Studies and enjoys engaging in educational outreach focused on the connections between culture, science, and the night sky
Another FREE lecture from our outstanding MA CAA graduates
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