Ripple Effect – Public Curiosity
Australian Geographic — and particularly Chrissie Goldrick — were among the very first to truly support the formation of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance, understanding early that education and storytelling are some of the most powerful tools we have to create meaningful environmental change. What made this experience so special was not only the opportunity […]
My Top Places to see the Night Sky
I wrote about why the Warrumbungles remains my number one dark sky destination in the world — and why protecting darkness matters more than ever.
First Urban Night Sky Place in the Southern Hemisphere
Six years in the making, from my very first conversations with Cr Kylie Ferguson at Northern Beaches Council through to the final designation day, this was one of the most challenging — and rewarding — dark sky projects I’ve ever worked on. Palm Beach becoming the Southern Hemisphere’s first Urban Night Sky Place was never […]
LED Billboards – Offsetting ALAN for the Environment
My controversial idea — but perhaps an increasingly necessary one: what if illuminated billboards were taxed for light pollution, with the revenue directed toward environmental restoration and mitigation projects? Artificial light at night remains one of the least regulated forms of pollution in Australia, despite growing evidence of its impact on wildlife, ecosystems, human health […]
Beyond the Astronomy Community
One of the things I’ve learned through dark sky advocacy is that protecting darkness is rarely just about astronomy. It’s about challenging long-held assumptions that brighter always means better, safer or more successful. When this Sydney Morning Herald piece was published, what struck me most was how strongly the conversation resonated beyond the astronomy community. […]
Guinness World Record records brightening skies
What started as an ambitious attempt to break a Guinness World Record unexpectedly became something far more important — a powerful piece of citizen science highlighting just how quickly our night skies are disappearing beneath artificial light. With only six weeks to pull the entire campaign together, the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance mobilised communities, schools, […]
My Passion Project
One of my greatest passion projects has been helping people reconnect with the night sky — and protecting darkness as something valuable, vulnerable and worth fighting for. Not simply because I love beautiful night skies — although I do — but because preserving darkness sits at the intersection of science, conservation, culture, tourism, human wellbeing […]