Dr Dietmar Hager

Biography

Dr. Dietmar Hager is accomplished Austrian Astro-photographer at the Stargazer Observatory. He is also a specialist in trauma and hand surgery, leading international courses. His medical precision enhances his astrophotography, creating captivating presentations. Dr. Hager’s expertise in star photography perfectly aligns with our scientific agenda, promising to bring a unique and fascinating perspective to the conference.

Talk Title: The multifaceted impacts of light-pollution

Light-pollution, the excessive or misdirected artificial light in the environment, is a growing concern with profound implications across economic, ecological, health policy, and cultural dimensions. Economically, light pollution increases energy consumption, inflating costs for municipalities, businesses, and households. Inefficient lighting design exacerbates this waste, highlighting the need for more sustainable infrastructure. Ecologically, artificial lighting disrupts natural ecosystems, altering animal behaviors such as migration, reproduction, and predation. Nocturnal species, in particular, are vulnerable, facing habitat loss and population declines due to altered circadian rhythms. From a health perspective, light pollution poses risks to human well-being. Overexposure to artificial light, particularly blue light at night, interferes with melatonin production, leading to sleep disorders and increasing the likelihood of chronic illnesses such as obesity, depression, and cardiovascular diseases. Health policy must address these risks by promoting awareness and implementing guidelines for safer lighting practices.

Culturally, light pollution diminishes humanity’s connection to the night sky, erasing millennia of stargazing traditions and disrupting astronomical research. This loss of cultural heritage undermines our ability to understand and appreciate the cosmos. Addressing light pollution requires a multidisciplinary approach, combining technological innovation, policy reform, and public education. Solutions such as adopting energy-efficient lighting, enforcing dark-sky regulations, and raising awareness about its far-reaching effects can mitigate its impact. Tackling light-pollution is not only an environmental imperative but also a societal one, demanding collective action to restore balance between artificial illumination and the natural night.