Finding truly dark skies has gotten harder and harder as humanity has become more urban. This not only makes it difficult for astronomers to see faint night sky objects, it has an effect on wildlife who also take their cues from the stars. Join Dr. Mindy Townsend, astronomer with the Dudley Observatory at Siena as she discusses the unintended consequences of lighting up the world.
Dr. Mindy Townsend is the Dudley Astronomer with Siena College in Loudonville, NY. After earning a BA in Political Science, a BS in Physics, and then a Law Degree, and passing her bar, she then returned to her original passion for space and astronomy, and received a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Kansas where her dissertation focused on how very massive galaxies grow. She has over 5 years experience conducting outreach and communicating science with K-12 students and the public.