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DARKER SKY Symposium

DARKER SKY

DARKER SKY — FINAL EVENT

"How to restore the night?"

Tuesday 25th August, Pôle Numérique du Bouguen

 

Led by the University of Brest, the DARKER SKY's project (2023-2026) brings together a partnership of ecologists, astronomers, light designers and urban planners representing universities, municipalities and ports. Co-funded by the Interreg North Sea programme, the aim of this interdisciplinary project is to reduce light pollution and increase biodiversity and ecological connectivity in the North Sea Region by supporting municipalities and ports in protecting nature through the implementation of light-reduction solutions.

After the implementation of new ways of lighting at 7 demonstrator sites, DARKER SKY' final event will showcase best practices in terms of lighting that have been tested (biodiversity monitoring, light measurements, sky brightness measurements, sociological study) in order to reconcile wildlife protection with human needs.

Carte DKS

A variety of deliverables and outputs will be presented, primarily aimed at decision-makers in the lighting sector, such as:

Light Pollution Mapping and Monitoring Guide 

  • A practical document for municipal planners, lighting managers and environmental agencies.
  • Summarises methods to measure light illumination and monitor ecological impacts on non-expert level.
  • Provides step-by-step guidance to identify where lighting modifications matter most to build evidence-based plans and to meet future regulatory requirements.

7 Light-reduction solutions implemented and evaluated

  • Each pilot site tested specific light reduction solutions each with a different co-design approach, e.g. bottom-up with local communities or top-down with local municipalities or ports.
  • The Pilot Evaluation Report compiles all results in four key sections:
    1. Technical light modifications
    2. Light measurements
    3. Biodiversity monitoring
    4. Sociological studies and policy implications
  • Providing clear recommendations for planners and decision-makers on effective and feasible lighting solutions.
  • Visual “Before & After” assessment wheels will illustrate how lighting, biodiversity and social perception changed before and after the modifications.

Pilot Results Fact Sheets (non-technical) 

  • Concise, easy-to-understand summaries of the project’s main findings.
  • Designed for municipalities, NGOs and citizens interested in the outcomes of the demonstrator sites and the effect of light modifications and their co-design approach.

Sky Brightness Map for selected North Sea Region areas 

  • A GIS-based, spatial map showing measured night-sky brightness across project regions.
  • Provides essential evidence to support transnational conservation planning and the protection of dark ecological corridors across the North Sea Region. 

6 Regional Action Plans for the Roll-out of Light Reduction Solutions 

  • Regional “roadmaps” developed together with municipalities, administrations and regional authorities.
  • Provide specific guidance and requirements for planning and implementing environmentally sound lighting infrastructure.
  • Aim to integrate the tested solutions into existing spatial and climate action plans, ensuring long-term impact beyond the project lifetime. 

Transnational Strategy to Reduce Light Pollution and Strengthen Dark Ecological Corridors 

  • A concise cross-border strategy of all project regions: Brest, Groningen, Friesland, Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Denmark.
  • Delivers policy recommendations to harmonise light pollution reduction across the North Sea Region.
  • Supports ecological connectivity and the creation of a joint framework for sustainable night-time environments.

This event will be freely accessible, even to participants outside of the SERE2026 conference. In terms of ecological restoration, DARKER SKY's final event will address a topic that has not been widely studied until now: the restoration of the night.

More information on the agenda to come soon...

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darkersky-ns/

Website: https://www.interregnorthsea.eu/darker-sky
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