Robert Dick
M.Eng., P.Eng.
P.O. Box 79
Rideau Ferry, Ontario
K0G 1W0
CANADA

Canadian Scotobiology Group

Following a conference in 2003 on the impact of light pollution on the environment, a small group of environmentalists and researches (Peter Goering, Dr. Tony Bidwell, Dr. David Welsh and Robert Dick continued to discuss the differences between "photobiology" (the study of the effect of light on biology) and the importance of "darkness". In about 2005, one of the Group Dr. Tony Bidwell coined the term "scotobiology" for the study of if the importance of darkness on biology.

With the encouragement of Parks Canada, a department in the Canadian Ministry of the Environment, Robert Dick studied the importance of limiting artificial light for wildlife. The results were used as guidelines in federal parks to support their policy of ecological integrity. These guidelines were adopted by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) in 2006 as the lighting protocol for their National Dark-sky Preserve Program, that began in 1999 with the Torrance Barrens Dark-sky Reserve .

The Canadian Scotobiology Group continues to expand its knowledge base and actively promotes its findings to governments, environmental organizations and the public. Their goal is to inform the public and governing officials of the problems associate with artificial outdoor lighting and advise them on lighting techniques that minimize these problems.

Work on Scotobiology

    Parks Canada Guidelines for Outdoor Lighting

    Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Dark Sky Preserve and Urban star Park Lighting Protocol

    Provided information to the City of Ottawa for their Right-of-way Lighting Policy


Research and Development

    We are developing and adapting lighting technologies to minimize the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on wildlife and human health. This has lead to the CSbG Luminaire. You can learn more about it on the csbg.ca web site.

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