Program for the Fall 2002 IDA Meeting

Friday, October 25, 2002, 9:00 a.m.;
Cahners Theater, Boston Museum of Science

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Session 1: Historical/Sociological Issues

This will be a general introduction to outdoor night lighting, including lighting terminology, history, and sociological factors (crime, fear-of-dark, safety, and aesthetics).

Session 2: Medical Issues

A discussion of the effects of outdoor light on people, particularly disability glare and issues involving the aging eye for senior citizens; also human photobiology and disruption of melatonin production.

Lunch (12:45–2:15 p.m.): Press Conference (Cahners Theater)

Session 3: Environmental and Ecological Issues

A discussion of issues involving the effects of outdoor light on flora and fauna — a good transition topic between medical effects and energy issues.

Session 4: Government, Industry, and You

A discussion of issues involving local, state, and national government as they interrelate to the lighting industry and to the general public, including energy consumption/costs and the IESNA's new ETAL-based standards.

Saturday, October 26, 9:00 a.m.;
Phillips Auditorium, Center for Astrophysics

Session 5: Residential and Small-Business Lighting Issues

A discussion concerning lighting of private housing, residential neighborhoods (including problems with sports fields), and small businesses. Relevant discussion will include lighting fixtures now available on the market, appropriate lumen levels and IESNA guidelines, and ordinances/bylaws.

Session 6: Legal Issues

With many new lighting ordinances and laws going into effect, this session will discuss the legal issues surrounding outdoor night lighting, including the enforcement (and enforceability) of laws/ordinances and results of previous litigation.

Lunch (12:30–1:30 p.m.): Exhibits, Posters, and Networking

Session 7: Lighting-Industry Issues

A reality check provided by lighting designers, manufacturers, and power-utility representatives, in the context of what's "best" vs. what the marketplace wants.

Session 8: Research and Education/Outreach Issues

A review of ongoing and needed research, the prospect of establishing a centralized information database, and discussion about how education and outreach efforts might advance the cause of better outdoor night lighting.

Closing Remarks

(Additional details are available on the IDA's meeting page.)

---

About the IDA
Incorporated in 1988, the International Dark-Sky Association (www.darksky.org) currently has nearly 10,000 members worldwide, including affiliated chapters in most U.S. states and 11 other countries. The organization's goals are to be effective in stopping the adverse environmental impact on dark skies by building awareness of the problem of light pollution and of its solutions, and to educate everyone about the value and effectiveness of quality nighttime lighting. The IDA believes in a united approach that is very supportive of the many local and individual efforts.

About Sky & Telescope
Sky Publishing Corp. was founded in 1941 by Charles A. Federer Jr. and Helen Spence Federer, the original editors of Sky & Telescope magazine. The company's headquarters are in Cambridge, Massachusetts, near the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. In addition to Sky & Telescope and SkyandTelescope.com, the company publishes an annual magazine called SkyWatch as well as books, star atlases, posters, prints, globes, and other fine astronomy products.