By Stephanie Todd
The Sierra Club will be participating in the first annual conference of the Missouri Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). The conference is scheduled for October 3 – 4 at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. The Missouri Sierra Club will host an informational booth and DeAnn Gregory will present the Thomas Hart Benton Group’s outstanding work to reduce light pollution in Kansas City. There will also be a presentation on Lights Out Heartland, of which the Missouri Sierra Club is a partner.
The conference, entitled “Seeking the Dark: Nighttime, Beauty, Biology, and Tourism” is expected to draw participants from a wide range of conservation, education, and municipal groups. The Executive Director of IDA from Tucson, Arizona will be the keynote speaker. Attendees will hear from experts on light pollution’s detrimental effects on animals, insects, birds, plants, and humans, as well as the benefits of dark skies including ecotourism. There will be no cost to participate in the conference with participation available either in-person or via Zoom. Registration will be open in early June. To register and for more information including a list of presenters and exhibitors go to www.darkskymissouri.org/conference.