Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
The bright side of darkness: Protecting and Promoting Appalachia's Night Skies
Session Abstract or Summary
Light pollution and dark skies conservation are emerging as important issues. A recent Washington Post article found that 99 percent of the population of Europe and the US live under light polluted skies and that a third of humanity, including most of the US population, can no longer see the Milky Way. Only a handful of truly dark places still exist in the eastern half of the Unites States. Almost all of these can be found in Appalachia.
While this news is cause for great concern for conservationists and astronomers, it also creates a significant economic opportunity for a number of small and relatively isolated Appalachian communities. These areas, which usually have the least amount of development, also boast pristine and accessible night skies. As dark skies become more scarce, the value of this resource is increasing and these communities are increasingly drawing amateur astronomers and other visitors.
This panel will examine the topic of night sky conservation and development. The panelists will address four main topic areeas: 1) the significance of regional dark sky assets; 2) the market for dark skies destinations; 3) sustainable development strategies for night sky resources; 4) design consideration for night sky viewing sites. Research data will be derived from a number of sources, including newly-developed night atlases and surveys of amaeur astronomers and other dark skies stakeholders. Calhoun County Park, a dark sky destination near Grantsville, WV, will serve as a case study for design and development considerations.
Presentation #1 Title
Embracing the Dark Side: The Market for Dark Skies Tourism
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Dark sky tourism is a rapidly growing but little understood Appalachian tourism segment. This presentation will focus on the market for dark skies destinations, the typical dark skies visitor, and emerging or potential markets for dark skies sites. It will also introduce strategies for developing these sites and for helping protect night-sky assets. Much of the market research will be culled from recent surveys of night sky stakeholders across the ARC region. These surveys were conducted as part of economic impact and market research related to the development of Calhoun County Park in Central West Virginia. The survey data provides demographic and economic information related to amateur astronomers and other night sky tourists. The research shows that while amateur astronomers are a niche market, they could prove to be a valuable source of revenue for many regional communities. While amateur astronomers remain the core market for these destination, recent research suggests demand for night sky travel among other groups. These destinations appear to have a number of important secondary markets, including programming related to the arts, humanities, faith communities, and environmental sciences. This presentation will intorduce these secondary markets and discuss their potential imact. Lastly, the presentation will introduce strategies to help communities develop and protect their dark sky resources. These include building local support, creating jurisdictional protections, and adopting low-impact ligating technologies.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Dr. Tim Ezzell is a research Scientist at the University of Tennessee, where he also teaches in the Political Science Department. He serves as chair of UT's Appalachian Community of Scholars.
Presentation #2 Title
Appalachia's Dark Skies: An Important Regional Resource
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
As dark skies vanish from our nation, a handful of Appalachian communities have gained recognition as some of the last truly dark places left in the easter United States. In this presentation, Dr. Jeff Bary will discuss the topic of light pollution, point our its national and global impacts, and demonstrate the significance of Appalachia’s remaining dark places. He will also relate these to his own story growing up in rural West Virginia and describe how these skies not only inspired him, but also help define the region.
Using a wide variety of evaluation tools, such as light pollution surveys and newly-developed dark sky atlases, Dr. Bary will show the widening effects of light pollution and the increasing degradation of the region’s dark skies. Using some of these same tools, he will then highlight surviving dark places across the region and discuss efforts to preserve them, including certification processes defined by the International Dark Skies Association.
Dr. Bary will then relate these efforts to the increasing importance of overall regional conservation efforts and the need to improve science and math education in rural areas. Using his own personal narrative, he will talk about how night skies inspired him to pursue a career in astrophysics and important their conservation is to developing the next generation of regional educators and scientists. Lastly, we will discuss the importance of these skies as a regional resource and how they should be seen as a defining element in regional identity and culture.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Dr. Jeff Bary, a native of McDowell County, WV, is an Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Colgate University. He holds a BS from Emory & Henry College, and a PhD, from Vanderbilt University.
Presentation #3 Title
Calhoun County Park: Linking the Night Sky to the Ground in Rural Appalachia
Presentation #3 Abstract or Summary
Since 2013 the Community Design Assistance Center of the Architecture program at Fairmont State University has worked with the University of Tennessee and West Virginia University Extension to help develop Calhoun County Park as a dark sky destination. The presentation will introduce the design concept for the park, the process used to create this design, and important early design considerations.
Beginning in 2013, FSU and its UT and WVU partners began condusting a series of planning a design workshops related to park development. These workshops included local residents, representatives from regional astronomy clubs, and other stakeholders. Project partners worked with this group to create a park vision, catalog park assets, and determine user priorities. These sessions also included “mini star parties,” where the design team observed and interacted with astronomers and other park visitors.
Based on these meetings the design team created a park concept that tied park features to astronomical features found in the night sky. The concept includes themed viewing and activity areas which relate to historical and cultural perceptions of astronomical constellations. The presentation will introduce this concept and discuss some of the design challenges faced when working in a dark environment.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Shae Strait is a Program Associate with the WV Brownfirlds Assistance Center at West Virginia University. He holds a Masters of Architecture degree from Fairmont State University, where he assisted with the design process for Calhoun County Park.
Presentation #4 Title
Calhoun County Park: Implementing the Dark Sky Design Vision
Presentation #4 Abstract or Summary
This presentation will discuss the challenges faced when implementing a design vision in a rural and economically distressed community. Continuing the discussion of Calhoun County Park, this presentation will highlight efforts to balance the practical needs of residents and visitors against the aspirations of the design and development teams.
The presentation will draw of information gathered during follow-up workshops and planning meetings with park stakeholders. If will include discussions related to the prioritization of key needs, local capacity issues, and coping with functionalist perceptions related to site development. It will also discuss critical infrastructure needs and the difficulties faced when imp[implementing them in a somewhat remote rural environment.
The presentation will show how designs were adjusted and adapted to meet these demands and illustrate some of the practical considerations associated with dark sky destination developments. It will conclude with practical advice for communities seeking to develop their own night sky resources.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Terri Lynn Wolfe is a student in the Master's of Architecture program at Miami University and an alumnus of Fairmont State University, where she was a member of the Calhoun County design team.
Embracing the Dark Side: The Market for Dark Skies Tourism
Dark sky tourism is a rapidly growing but little understood Appalachian tourism segment. This presentation will focus on the market for dark skies destinations, the typical dark skies visitor, and emerging or potential markets for dark skies sites. It will also introduce strategies for developing these sites and for helping protect night-sky assets. Much of the market research will be culled from recent surveys of night sky stakeholders across the ARC region. These surveys were conducted as part of economic impact and market research related to the development of Calhoun County Park in Central West Virginia. The survey data provides demographic and economic information related to amateur astronomers and other night sky tourists. The research shows that while amateur astronomers are a niche market, they could prove to be a valuable source of revenue for many regional communities. While amateur astronomers remain the core market for these destination, recent research suggests demand for night sky travel among other groups. These destinations appear to have a number of important secondary markets, including programming related to the arts, humanities, faith communities, and environmental sciences. This presentation will intorduce these secondary markets and discuss their potential imact. Lastly, the presentation will introduce strategies to help communities develop and protect their dark sky resources. These include building local support, creating jurisdictional protections, and adopting low-impact ligating technologies.
