"Darkness at Night: Essential for Life" with James Lowenthal (Berkshire Green Drinks)

For the July 2024 Berkshire Green Drinks event, Smith College Professor of Astronomy James Lowenthal presented on Wednesday, July 10, at Big Elm Brewing in Sheffield, MA. He discussed the effects of light pollution on wildlife, humans, and the natural environment.

Discover how the natural world comes alive, how humans and other diurnal creatures need darkness to thrive, how artificial light at night upsets ecosystems, and how the growing international Dark Sky movement is working to rein in light pollution and protect and bring back natural darkness at night.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
James Lowenthal, Mary Elizabeth Moses Professor and Chair of Astronomy at Smith College, uses large telescopes in space and on the ground to study the formation of galaxies in the early Universe and also uses Smith’s rooftop telescope with a team of students to study exoplanets orbiting stars in our Milky Way galaxy. He works locally, nationally, and internationally to protect the night sky from light pollution and satellite constellations.

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Berkshire Green Drinks (formerly Pittsfield Green Drinks) is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month that's organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). A guest speaker talks about an environmentally-related topic for about 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM, and the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. These nights are free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. The drinks aren't green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions!

BEAT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Pittsfield, MA. Its mission is to protect the environment for wildlife in support of the natural world that sustains us all. BEAT has three major focal areas: stewardship, education & outreach, and watchdogging. Through its work, BEAT enacts meaningful change throughout Berkshire County, western Massachusetts, and beyond. Learn more at https://www.thebeatnews.org/