Have you ever considered how the night time was a vastly different experience for our ancestors to what we encounter today? When was the last time you experienced true darkness? We live in a world where the lines between day and night have become blurred. The use of electric light to extend our day time hours has become standard practice over the last 80 years, but at what cost? Our human drive for artificial light at night has inadvertently led to a myriad of consequences. Impacting everything from human circadian systems, wildlife and fauna, and even our access to the wonders of a starry night. Outdoor lighting that once defined human progress has now become a serious pollutant.

This talk explores the environmental responsibilities we all have when designing outdoor spaces; looking at how our lighting trends are impacting negatively on the environment, and detracting from the liveability of our cities. We will explore how we can design lighting to deliver better outcomes for the environment, whilst making a more positive contribution to the quality of life of our communities.

Meet the Speaker:

Landon Bannister has been working in the lighting industry for over 20 years. He is a passionate advocate of the important role light plays in influencing human health and emotion, and how this relates to the natural world. He sits on the local Chapter Management Committee for the Illuminating Engineers Society VIC/TAS, is the founder of Dark Sky Tasmania Inc., and is a board member and technical chair of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance.