Light pollution is bad for birds, bees and your health.
This week's speaker, Stephen Hummel, is the Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory, located in the Big Bend region of Texas.
His educational background is in international relations and astronomy. Alongside many partners, Stephen was involved in establishing the world's largest International Dark Sky Association certified Dark Sky Reserve in the Big Bend region of Texas and Mexico in early 2022. Prior to this, Stephen was involved in astronomy and science outreach. In his spare time Stephen is an accomplished photographer, with images used by National Geographic, the BBC, NASA, and more.
Over the past 100+ years, the world's night skies have been rapidly vanishing due to the spread of light pollution. Thankfully, easy solutions to light pollution exist.
In a remote region of West Texas and Northern Mexico, astronomers, conservationists, parks, and many communities have teamed together to form the largest area in the world where the night sky is protected: the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve. The reserve is not only the largest of its kind at over 15,000 square miles in area, but also the first such reserve to cross an international border.
At the core of the reserve is the University of Texas' McDonald Observatory, home to one of the largest telescopes in the world. McDonald Observatory has worked with surrounding communities for decades to promote better lighting practices to preserve our night skies, without requiring people to live in darkness.
Stephen Hummel will discuss the impact of artificial light as well as the strategies that have led to the reserve's success.
To learn more, go to:
https://www.bigbenddarkskyreserve.org/
and the International Dark-Sky Association
https://darksky.org
More about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley
Website: Rotary.cool
Meetings’ Video Archive
YouTubeChannel
How to become a member in this online Rotary eClub
More about Rotary International:
Website: www.Rotary.org
Find a local Rotary club
Find an online Rotary Club
Podcast and Zoom Host: Rushton Hurley
Podcast Producer: Elton Sherwin
Audio edited and enhanced with: Descript Studio Sound
#PositiveChange
#Inspiration
#Rotary
