Press/Media: Research
The founding director of Lancaster University’s Dark Design Laboratory, Prof Dunn says light, an often-uninvited by-product of our contemporary lives, is everywhere. Meanwhile darkness appears unwanted, but is essential to our wellbeing, other species, and our planet.
This bold vision questions the outdated view of darkness something to be feared and designed against and, by doing so, proposes a reconnection of humans within the wider world – a true multispecies coexistence that is in tune with our body clocks and nature’s rhythms.
A balanced relationship with light and dark means, adds Prof Dunn, improved human health, flourishing biodiversity, and reduction in energy waste and pollution.
‘Dark Futures’ is part autobiography as it explains the author’s evolving relationship with darkness through childhood and beyond and part meditation on how we can rethink our ideas concerning the dark and, in turn, how this can transform our ecologies and technologies for the better.
“Common perception holds light and dark in opposition. Light is celebrated and synonymous with goodness, clarity, and wisdom. Darkness, meanwhile, appears unwanted, deep in its association with all that is dangerous, demonic, and oppressive.”
Prof Dunn says we are losing the night due to excessive artificial lighting. For centuries this was a terrestrial problem, but now fast-moving satellites can illuminate parts of the planet that were previously remote enough not be affected.
“As a result, our ancestral links with dark skies, relationships which lasted for millennia are all but extinguished with artificial stars due to replace those in the galaxy,” he says.
“Darkness is progressive. It signifies the very act of being alive as a species that depends on circadian rhythms for survival. Our ability to flourish depends entirely on rethinking our values and restoring our interrelationships with the planet and its other inhabitants. How might dark futures benefit people, places, and the planet?”
| Title | Lancaster Uni professor’s new book explores how we should embrace darkness |
|---|---|
| Degree of recognition | Regional |
| Media name/outlet | Lancaster Guardian |
| Primary Media type | Web |
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| Date | 25/03/25 |
| Description | The founding director of Lancaster University’s Dark Design Laboratory, Prof Dunn says light, an often-uninvited by-product of our contemporary lives, is everywhere. Meanwhile darkness appears unwanted, but is essential to our wellbeing, other species, and our planet. This bold vision questions the outdated view of darkness something to be feared and designed against and, by doing so, proposes a reconnection of humans within the wider world – a true multispecies coexistence that is in tune with our body clocks and nature’s rhythms. A balanced relationship with light and dark means, adds Prof Dunn, improved human health, flourishing biodiversity, and reduction in energy waste and pollution. ‘Dark Futures’ is part autobiography as it explains the author’s evolving relationship with darkness through childhood and beyond and part meditation on how we can rethink our ideas concerning the dark and, in turn, how this can transform our ecologies and technologies for the better. “Common perception holds light and dark in opposition. Light is celebrated and synonymous with goodness, clarity, and wisdom. Darkness, meanwhile, appears unwanted, deep in its association with all that is dangerous, demonic, and oppressive.” Prof Dunn says we are losing the night due to excessive artificial lighting. For centuries this was a terrestrial problem, but now fast-moving satellites can illuminate parts of the planet that were previously remote enough not be affected. “As a result, our ancestral links with dark skies, relationships which lasted for millennia are all but extinguished with artificial stars due to replace those in the galaxy,” he says. “Darkness is progressive. It signifies the very act of being alive as a species that depends on circadian rhythms for survival. Our ability to flourish depends entirely on rethinking our values and restoring our interrelationships with the planet and its other inhabitants. How might dark futures benefit people, places, and the planet?” |
| Producer/Author | Gayle Rouncivell |
| Persons | Nick Dunn |