Students Receive International Award from International Dark-Sky Association

Michigan student, Austin Hammer, received the first place prize for the high
school category in the George and Edythe Taylor student award program of the
International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). Jennifer Barlow, a sophomore from
Midlothian, Virginia, tied for the second place with Chilean student,
Macarena Campos. These awards were announced at the annual conference of the
International Dark-Sky Association in Tucson, Arizona.

The award encourages students to explore the worldwide problem of light
pollution through science, technology, society, and the environment. The
judges were impressed by the students’ eloquent communication skills, by the
fact that they were sharing their projects with the world, and by the fact
that these projects “made a big difference.”

The award is given in honor of George and Edythe Taylor. George was a career
lighting engineer who won honors from the Illuminating Engineering Society of
North America (IESNA) for his contributions to the field. He was the IESNA’s
54th President (1958-59) and always supported education.

The IESNA’s mission is “to advance knowledge and to disseminate information
for the improvement of the lighted environment to the benefit of society.”
According to Rita Harrold, IESNA Director, Educational and Technical
Development, “It is fitting that the outstanding students for the first
George and Edythe Taylor Student Award clearly have the same concept of
mission. These highly motivated students demonstrated significant outreach
efforts.”

Austin Hammer used a variety of methods including raising funds, installing
equipment, making presentations and increasing community awareness.
Jennifer Barlow founded the national dark sky week to raise national
awareness, and Macarena Campos contacted local governments to change
attitudes and regulations in Chile.

The IDA is a non-profit, education and research organization, dedicated to
preserving and protecting the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark
skies through quality outdoor lighting.

Light pollution is a problem with workable solutions, and students identify
with it. Today’s students are the first in history to grow up without the
awe-inspiring splendor of a beautiful star filled sky. In a world with
limited natural resources and an increasing need to protect our ecosystem,
too much energy is being squandered on wasteful lighting. Obtrusive
nighttime lighting adversely affects humans, wildlife, and flora. Students
find that by raising awareness and changing practices in their own community,
they contribute to worldwide solutions.

The IDA press kit is at: http://www.darksky.org/newsroom/presskit.html
Details about the IDA are at: http://www.darksky.org
Details about the IESNA are at: http://www.iesna.org
Details about the award program and judging criteria are at:
http://www.darksky.org/education/edaward.html