Defined as the presence of unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive artificial lighting, light pollution pervades 80% of global skies in the form of skyglow, or artificial brightening of the night sky. Its deleterious effects extend beyond astronomy — impacting the health of natural ecosystems, the behavior of energy consumption, and human circadian rhythms.

So, what can we do about it? In cooperation with the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, UCLA student researchers will share information about the impacts of light pollution in Idaho, the different ways to measure light pollution, the results of their monitoring studies throughout the Reserve since 2021, and ways you may be able to get involved in tackling light pollution!