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Ideas Exchange: Nighttime Ecology

2 September 2026
12.30pm – 1.30pm AEST
Seminar room 506, Main Library, UNSW Kensington
A vast city skyline glowing with bright lights at night under a dark sky.

Inspired by themes explored in the exhibition The Infinite Look: A History of Gazing Skyward, Ideas Exchange: Nighttime Ecology brings together UNSW researchers from various disciplines to examine how human activity is reshaping life after dark.

Artificial light, rising urban temperatures, and other human-driven changes are altering ecosystems, urban environments, and our experience of the night sky. This panel discussion will explore these issues through perspectives spanning marine biology, the built environment, and astrophysics.

Drawing on their current research, the panellists will share how they approach artificial light on marine ecosystems, the development of more climate-responsive urban environments, and the relationship between human activity and observation of the night sky.

Panellists include Ms Milly Caley (School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences), A/Prof Riccardo Paolini (School of Built Environment) and Dr Jesse van de Sande (School of Physics). Chaired by Ms Jahanvi Maheshwari (School of Physics).

This event is part of the Ideas Exchange series, which invites researchers from different disciplines to engage with themes emerging from exhibitions presented by UNSW Library.

When: Wednesday 2 September, 12.30-1.30pm. Light refreshments will be served after the event.
Where: Main Library, Level 5, Seminar Room 506 (opposite Exhibition Space)

Please be advised that this event will be filmed.

If you wish to attend online, please contact Lib.Exhibitions@unsw.edu.au. Online access will be limited to the event audio and presentation slides.