"Life on Earth Depends on Natural Darkness"

Monday, June 26 7:00 p.m. "Life on Earth Depends on Natural Darkness"

Location: First United Methodist Church
505 W. Marvin Ave., Waxahachie, TX
Family Life Center - Gathering Room

Indian Trail Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist
6:00 PM - Business Meeting
7:00 PM Program: presented by Cindy Luongo Cassidy

"Life on Earth Depends on Natural Darkness"
Almost every living thing on our planet uses the cycle of light and dark to trigger life processes. Humans are, for the most part, diurnal and have come to depend on artificial light for nighttime activities. So, how does our artificial light at night effect fauna and flora? It’s hard for us to see what habitat destruction by artificial light looks like. This program helps us understand the effects of artificial light on living things, including ourselves, and how we can reduce the negative effect of our lights.
Additionally, participants will take home a new awareness about the lighting practices, which allow humans to have the light they want or need for nighttime activities while minimizing the negative effects of artificial light. These practices save energy costs, reduce glare, increase safety, reduce light trespass, limit the negative consequences on the environment, and create a more aesthetically pleasing nocturnal environment for humans.

Cindy Luongo Cassidy is the Section Leader for the Texas Section of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a Hays County Master Naturalist, a founding member of the Hill Country Alliance Night Sky Team, and the owner of Green Earth Lighting, which specializes in consultation services to reduce light pollution. As the lighting consultant for the City of Dripping Springs she was a key player in positioning them to receive the prestigious International Dark Sky Community designation. She facilitates workshops and is an enthusiastic speaker on effective outdoor lighting. She has been instrumental in helping communities, businesses, and individuals address excessive lighting issues. Cassidy lives in Driftwood, Texas and recently ran the hugely successful Texas Night Sky Festival®.
...........................
Indian Trail Chapter is part of the statewide Texas Master Naturalist Volunteer Program of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
The Mission …to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach,
and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas
within their communities.
This program is part of a series of “no cost” “open to the public” Master Naturalist programs offered the fourth Monday (generally) of each month, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Please bring a friend! For more information, please call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension at 972-825-5175 or email: information@itmnc.com

Posted on June 13, 2017 08:34 PM by cgritz