The ALAN Conference 2025, dedicated to exploring all aspects of artificial light at night, will take place in Westport, Co. Mayo, from October 28–30. Hosted by Dark Sky Ireland and Mayo Dark Sky Park, the conference brings together researchers, lighting professionals, policymakers, and activists to discuss topics such as ecology, health, governance, and lighting design. ALAN 2025 provides a platform for interdisciplinary exchange, addressing both the benefits and challenges of artificial lighting.
Featuring:
Sonal Asgotraa, Founder of Astrostays.
Ulrike Brandi, lighting designer and founding member of the Transnational Lighting Detectives.
Dr. Hector Linares-Arroyo, researcher in light pollution measurement and modelling
Dr. Elena Maggi, field ecologist and professor at the University of Pisa specialising in coastal marine habitats.
Yana Yakushina, lawyer, researcher, and dark sky protection educator and co-founder of Living Night.
Kerem Asfuroglu, founder of Dark Source, an award-winning lighting design studio driven by environmental values
The programme for the 9th International Artificial Light at Night Scientific Conference features an array of invited international guest speakers and is taking place in Westport, Co. Mayo this year from October 28th to 30th. This is the first time the Conference is taking place in Ireland and Dark Sky Ireland is honoured to co-host the event, together with the Friends of Mayo Dark Skies group. Westport has been selected as the key venue for its proximity to the Gold-tier Mayo International Dark Sky Park, which was awarded the prestigious “Dark Sky Place of the Year Award 2024” by DarkSky International.
The ALAN Conference will see academics, astronomers and night sky enthusiasts, as well as lighting designers and technicians from all over the world, gather in Mayo to discuss how and where light is used, how it is impacting biodiversity. It will also explore human experience of naturally dark skies and how excessive and inappropriate use of artificial light is affecting human wellbeing. It is the only professional conference series on light pollution with this interdisciplinary approach.
The programme will feature distinguished speakers from across the globe and Dark Sky Ireland Chairperson Professor Brian Espey commented “we are extremely delighted our bid was chosen by the international committee to host this prestigious event and are looking forward to hearing from leading experts in the field and creating a forum for fruitful discussion. It is a great opportunity to showcase the quality of the internationally recognised Gold Tier Mayo Dark Sky Park and the increasing interest in Ireland in protecting the night-time environment for all, both urban and rural dwellers alike.”
Annette Krop-Benesch, dark sky consultant and co-chair of the ALAN steering committee, says: “We are excited to have our next conference in County Mayo, a region well known for its respectful lighting approach that considers nature, human wellbeing, and our love for the night sky. It’s the perfect setting for ALAN2025, and we are sure many of our attendees will not only look forward to discussions with peers, but also to Irish hospitality and a beautiful landscape.”
The ALAN Conference Call for Papers has been issued and ALAN 2025 is seeking presentations related to all aspects of artificial light at night. Abstracts can be submitted via Oxford Abstracts by March 20, 2025 on the topics Biology & Ecology, Governance & Regulations, Health, Measurements & Modeling, Social Sciences & Humanities, Technology & Design. It is hoped the conference will provide a platform for interdisciplinary networking and exchange and support the growing global movement towards preserving the Dark Sky at Night. Whilst ALAN is primarily a scientific conference, it is open to researchers and professionals working in the area of ALAN/light pollution and its impacts, or addressing solutions, and submissions for oral or poster presentations relating to any of the conference topics are welcome. Registration for attendance at the conference is opening in Spring 2025.
Further details are available at darksky.ie and artificiallightatnight.org as they are confirmed.