Circadian Effects of Nighttime Lighting for Humans and Wildlife – Hazard or Hope?

In the past 10 years, the lighting community has leveraged a growing body of scientific research on human circadian rhythm to better understand how electric light can support human health.

Within this same timeframe, the scientific community has also gained greater insights into the role of electric lighting on the circadian rhythm of wildlife and humans within the exterior nighttime environment.

Based on these understandings, as well as the global growth of light pollution, many medical researchers, biologists, and naturalists consider electric light to be one of the fastest-growing and most pervasive forms of environmental pollution.  Learn from Travis Longcore about the growing body of scientific research that suggests that light pollution may create adverse health effects for both humans and wildlife.

Speaker Bio:

Travis Longcore is an Adjunct Professor in the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and Co-Chair, Environmental Science and Engineering (D.Env.) Program. He is an Associate Editor of PLoS ONE and Urban Ecosystems and is a Certified Senior Ecologist (Ecological Society of America) and a GIS Professional (GISP).  He also serves as the Science Director of The Urban Wildlands Group.

Dr. Longcore conducts research on environmental health, focusing on the conservation of biodiversity in cities and beyond and the application of spatial tools to human health exposures. His research includes investigation of the effects of artificial night lighting on wildlife and human health; mapping, modeling, and management of species and habitats; reconstruction of historical landscapes to better understand current and future land management options; and use of big spatial data to assess impacts and evaluate mitigations for exposure to extreme heat.  His landmark article “Ecological Light Pollution” (Longcore and Rich 2004) and 2006 co-edited book Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting (Island Press) have come to define a new and rapidly growing research area in ecology.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://ies-org.zoom.us/j/86158018008?pwd=cUh2ajY3SjJ1TXErT2x1VGc3RWlWdz09

Passcode: 489995

https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/person/travis-longcore/