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Blue Dot: Dark skies for ecosystem and human health with The Nature Conservancy

Starry skies over The Nature Conservancy's Dye Creek Preserve.
Bradley Foster
Starry skies over The Nature Conservancy's Dye Creek Preserve.

Host Dave Schlom is joined by two representatives from The Nature Conservancy in California to discuss the importance of dark skies as a natural resource. Rodd Kelsey and Scott Hardage give an overview of a successful program initiated at the Conservancy's Gray Davis Dye Creek Preserve in rural Tehama County.

Light pollution is making it increasingly difficult for folks to see a starry sky at night, but there is more at stake than beautiful views. Many migratory birds travel during night time and can be disoriented by artificial lighting.

Not to mention owls, birds, sea turtles and other creatures of the night. There are simple ways folks can help turn down the light pollution in their own lives by directing outdoor lighting downward, using sensors and timers and otherwise not wasting energy to light up the sky.

Dave Schlom is the longtime host and creator of Blue Dot. From surfing to Voyager in interstellar space, rock guitar to orcas in our imperiled oceans, the topics on Blue Dot are as varied as the host’s interests and connections -- which are pretty limitless! An internationally respected space history journalist, Dave is also deeply fascinated by all aspects of the grand workings of nature’s awesome machinery on scales ranging from galactic to subatomic. And topics take in all aspects of the arts and sciences.
Matt Fidler is a producer and sound designer with over 15 years’ experience producing nationally distributed public radio programs. He has worked for shows such as Freakonomics Radio, Selected Shorts, Studio 360, The New Yorker Radio Hour and The Takeaway. In 2017, Matt launched the language podcast Very Bad Words, hitting the #28 spot in the iTunes podcast charts.