The European Symposium for the Protection of the Night Sky was first held in France in 1998 and most recently in Fulda, Germany, in 2022. This is the first time it is organised in the Netherlands. The European Symposium series occupies a special place in the history of the international dark sky movement, being the first organized effort to routinely bring together light pollution researchers and activists alike to exchange ideas and move the subject forward. This important event presents the work of experts from different fields and countries on the various facets of light pollution; its impact on the environment, health, economy and cultural heritage.
“The revival of the European Symposium is a clear and encouraging indication of renewed interest among these countries in putting European interests front and center in the context of our wider global movement,” says Ruskin Hartley, DarkSky International Executive Director.
The 2024 European Symposium will be a platform for research, activism and policy discussions on protecting the night sky, with participants from all over Europe. The symposium will be held from March 14-16, 2024 in the Fletcher Familiehotel Paterswolde close to Groningen and the Dark Sky Park Lauwersmeer,. For those interested in giving a presentation: the call for abstracts is currently open and closes on December 31, 2023.
- Measurement methods of light pollution
- Environmental impact (e.g., on animals and humans)
- Efficient, dark sky friendly, lighting
- Regulations against light pollution
- Light pollution in the Netherlands
- Dark Sky Parks, astrotourism in Europe
- Education about light pollution
- and more
The attendance fee has been kept as low as possible, to also attract people that do not have much funding.
The Organising Committee of EURODARK 2024 consists of
Reynier Peletier (Chair)
Prof. Björn Poppe
Jake Noel-Storr
Andreas Haenel
Jaime Zamorano
Cristina Nazzari
Roelof Hut
Kamiel Spoelstra
Andy Jechow
Zoltán Kolláth
Koosje Lamers
Theo Jurriens
Nynke Visser
Martine ter Wal
information about the conference can be obtained from Martine ter Wal (eurodark@astro.rug.nl), Nynke Visser (visser@astro.rug.nl) and Reynier Peletier (peletier@astro.rug.nl)
The conference has been dedicated to the following 2 people:
- Wim Schmidt, a Dutch light pollution specialist, who has been instrumental to create, for example, the Dark Sky parks Terschelling and Lauwersmeer. He has been instrumental in setting up light pollution monitoring networks in the Netherlands.
- Bob Mizon, a UK astronomer, who has been very important for light pollution awareness in the UK and the world (https://www.darksky.org/remembering-robert-edward-bob-mizon-mbe-fras-1946-2023/).
