Science Communication

Artificial light is part of our everyday lives. In cities, on buildings, or in the domestic setting, it provides security and opens up individual opportunities for shaping our lifestyles. However, this permanent illumination also has a bitter downside: The natural day-night rhythms of organisms are altered, orientation is disrupted for numerous animal species, and ecological processes on land and in coastal or marine habitats are impacted.

Although the effects of light pollution have been scientifically proven, artificial light is seldom perceived as an environmental problem. This is precisely where the project “Lebensraum Dunkelheit” (Darkness as a Habitat) of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel comes into play. A project team is developing an immersive scientific format that makes the latest findings on light pollution experienceable. This project is being supported with a grant of around €30,000 as part of the “Innovative Science Communication” funding program of the Daimler and Benz Foundation.

The core of the project is an interactive experience trail on which participants are exposed to lighting situations, using all their senses: They make decisions on the use of artificial light and directly perceive the consequences both for humans and for fauna and flora. All the stations are based on the latest research findings from GEOMAR. Scientific explanations help participants put these experiences into the appropriate context. In this way, the conflict of goals between security, utilization of public spaces, and the protection of nature and biodiversity are made tangible.

By combining sensory perceptions, scientific findings, and real-world decision-making scenarios, “Lebensraum Dunkelheit” opens up a new perspective: Artificial lighting is much more than a purely technical or design issue – it is a genuine environmental problem.