Columbia Public Library, Friends Room

6-7:30 PM

Contact: Emma Buckingham buckinghame@missouri.edu

For the October Membership meeting, join us for a lecture by Dr. Vayujeet Gokhale (Truman State University) who will discuss the importance of the Lights Out Program in his talk titled “Monarchs, Milkweed, and the Milky Way.” This talk will be co-sponsored by Daniel Boone Regional Library and DarkSky Missouri.

 

This presentation calls on all nature lovers to work together toward a comprehensive approach to conservation, following in the footsteps of Rachel Carson and Doug Tallamy. The ability to see the Milky Way at night from one’s front yard is just as much an indicator of a healthy, natural environment as is the presence of a pesticide free, natural habitat with natives that attracts, say, the iconic monarch butterflies. Just as pesticides and invasive species degrade precious and life-nourishing natural resources such as soil and water, the indiscriminate use of unshielded, bright blue-white LED light degrades another underappreciated natural resource: natural darkness at night. Most living beings need this darkness – humans and other animals need it to regulate much needed sleep, and to maintain and improve their mental and physical health.
Most birds migrate at night in the cover of darkness, whilst many lifeforms take advantage of the darkness to forage, hunt, and breed. Responsible outdoor lighting is not just good for the environment and human health, but it also enhances the safety of pedestrians and drivers by reducing direct glare and clutter. In this presentation, we will discuss the relatively straightforward steps you can take to protect natural nighttime conditions in a manner that is not only safe, aesthetically pleasing, ecologically responsible, but also addresses the legitimate outdoor lighting needs in our communities.

 

Vayujeet Gokhale is a professor of physics and astronomy at Truman State University.  He earned his BSc. in physics (’96) and MSc. in nuclear physics (’98) from the University of Bombay, followed by a PhD in astronomy from Louisiana State University (2007). He lives just outside of Kirksville, Missouri with his wife Michelle, two young kids, a dog and a cat. Dr. Gokhale maintains his sanity by watching Seinfeld, Quentin Tarantino movies, and listening to dad rock. He loves the night sky, and is training to be a Missouri Master Gardener and Master Naturalist. Dr. Gokhale adores America’s National Parks and dreams of someday becoming an astronomy park ranger at the Arches National Park in Utah.

 

 

Please note the location of this month’s meeting at the Daniel Boone Regional Library (Columbia) and slightly earlier time, 6:00 PM, to accommodate library hours.

Map to the Daniel Boone Regional Library

Link to pamphlet