Astronomy, Space Science, and the Environment (Senior College in the Community)

Astronomers are the 'canaries in the coalmine' and leaders in addressing a number of new and major environmental issues. Light pollution, space crowding and space debris, and climate change are all connected with our disciplines. As individuals and communities, we can make a difference - but only if we know what the issues are and how to address them. The documentary film, Defending the Dark,  tells the story of our work combatting light pollution and protecting the dark skies of northern Maine, with lessons that can be applied anywhere. Our workshop and presentation will discuss these and other environmental issues that we can, and must, address.

Douglas Arion, PhD is the director of Mountains of Stars, a public science outreach and education program that engages the public with ‘environmental awareness from a cosmic perspective’, and is Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy and Donald D. Hedberg Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurial Studies at Carthage College. He founded the college’s Griffin Observatory and led observing programs at Yerkes, Steward, and Kitt Peak National Observatories. Arion created and led ScienceWorks, the nation’s first undergraduate entrepreneurship education program. Previously, he was assistant vice president and head of the Applied Physics and Engineering Division of Science Applications International Corporation, where he directed programs in national defense.

He co-founded Galileoscope to provide high quality, low cost telescopes for worldwide promotion of science education. Initially launched for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and the International Year of Light 2015, more than 270,000 are now in use in over 110 countries, and a new edition featuring solar filters for the upcoming
eclipses is now available.

Arion led the effort to create the AMC Maine Woods International Dark Sky Park, which protects over 100,000 acres in Maine – the last substantial dark sky region in the eastern 2/3 of the US. He produced Defending the Dark, a documentary on dark skies in Maine that has been shown on PBS across the US and at several major film festivals.

He is active in economic and business development, and serves on the USEDA sponsored Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy committee for northern New Hampshire. He helped create the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation, an economic development and technology transfer organization in Racine, WI.

Arion is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a member of the American Astronomical Society and the International Astronomical Union, has received the Distinguished Service Award from Sigma Pi Sigma (the physics honorary society), the Volunteer Leadership Award from the Appalachian Mountain Club, and the Dark Sky Defender Award from the International Dark Sky Association. He serves on US and international commissions on protecting astronomy and space environments. He has conducted research in many fields, including the solar atmosphere, radiation effects on electronics and space systems, instrumentation development, and asteroid compositions.

Those who wish to attend will have the option of doing so in person, in the Androscoggin Community Room, or virtually.  For more information or to register (requested if attending in person, required if attending via Zoom), visit https://laseniorcollege.org/.  Everyone who registers will receive a link to Zoom in their email on the morning of the class and may attend either in person or by Zoom if desired.

This presentation is part of a speaker series entitled Senior College in the Community offered through a partnership with Lewiston Auburn Senior College.  Lewiston Auburn Senior College has a long-standing relationship with community partners.  In addition to this program, Senior College offers in-person, Zoom, and hybrid enrichment classes.  For more information about Senior College, visit https://laseniorcollege.org/.