“Light pollution not only has harmful effects on the environment and human health, but also damages the night environment and contributes to climate change and the generation of waste”, highlights Ángel Morales, Professor on Analytical Chemistry and Head of Initiatives of the Office of the Vice-Principal for Territorial Projection and Society of the Universitat de València (UV).

This problem will focus the day that will take place in Riba-roja de Túria on Tuesday 26th November entitled Contaminación lumínica.  Amenaza al bienestar de las personas (Light pollution. Threat to people’s well-being).   It is the fourth year that the Office of the Vice-Principal for Territorial Projection and Society, along with Riba-roja de Túria, organized this day with the collaboration of the Coordinator in forest defence of Túria, Cel Fosc and the Red Española de Estudios sobre Contaminación Lumínica (Spanish Network of Studies on Light Pollution). “The aim of this encounter is to raise awareness of the problems associated with excessive lighting and present the tools that exist to reduce light pollution,” explains Ángel Morales, scientific officer of the day with Enric Marco (Astronomy Classroom, UV).

The conference will be inaugurated at the Local Development Agency of Riba-roja de Túria by the Regional Secretary for Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition of the Generalitat Valenciana, Paula Tuzón; the mayor of the town, Robert Raga; and the vice-Principal for Territorial Projection and Society, Jorge Hermosilla.

Josep Maria Ollé, Technical Lighting engineer, will give a lecture on the challenges faced by the local administration in the management of light pollution; Anna Almécija, lawyer and criminologist, will tackle lighting as a crime prevention measure; and Carlos Herranz, Cel Fosc physicist and partner, will focus on night-time lighting that respects the area of Madrid. The three speakers will then participate in a round table entitled Iniciativas por un cielo oscuro (Initiatives for a dark sky), moderated by Ángel Morales.   

In the afternoon session, Professor María Ángeles Bonmatí from the University of Murcia will give the lecture Luz nocturna y salud: el papel de nuestro reloj biológico (Night light and health: the role of our biological clock); Professor Jaume Escofet from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia will talk about efficient and healthy lighting devices in interior spaces. Finally, both teachers will debate in a round table, moderated by Enric Marco, under the title Luz y salud (Light and health).