Dialog am Müggelsee

On June 11th 2010 the "Dialog am Müggelsee" took place at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB). Every year this event picks up a present theme in order to discuss it with experts of politics, application and research. As light is associated with positive values like security, wealth and urban modernity, we tend to intensively illuminate our environment. But things bringing along a valuable advantage, also have their down/dark sides: Light pollution increases with yet unknown effects on humans and nature. We already know that light – especially the natural rhythm of light and dark – influences the behavioural patterns of most individuals. But we do not know (exactly) how and why the individual living communities in water and on land react to artificial light. While air, noise and water pollution are all relevant for ecology and health and therfore are being investigated, light pollution is kept in “darkness” both social as well as legally. Together with experts from politics, economy and science we discussed basics, perspectives and possibilities for a sustainable management for the illumination of the night.