UPCOMING WEBINAR
24 February - 11 am
We are delighted to announce that our first speaker for ADSA’s 2022 webinar series is Dr Maya Babu. She will be sharing the latest medical research on lighting and human health, as well as future directions for scientific research and guidance on this topic.
Dr Babu’s background is in neuroscience and psychology. She received a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School in 2010 and is now an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. She has been involved with multiple medical committees, including serving on the board of the American Medical Association (AMA) since 2013.
The AMA is recognised as the largest medical society bringing together physicians, speciality medical societies and key stakeholders with the goal of improving public health for all. In 2016 the AMA published a report titled Human and Environmental Effects of Light Emitting Diode Community Lighting. The aim of this report was to provide guidance on lighting to reduce the impacts of LEDs on human health and wildlife based on scientific research. This was achieved by highlighting the importance of considering factors such as the blue-light content and intensity of lighting when selecting LEDs and shielding when selecting lighting fixtures, which align with the recommendations given by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).
The report also acknowledges emerging research on the long-term health impacts that exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) can cause. Since this report was published, recent research has associated circadian rhythm disruptions due to ALAN with elevated risk of breast, prostate and thyroid cancer in humans. Additionally, exposure to ALAN has also been linked to sleep and mental health disorders.
Researchers have said that the report conducted by the AMA was considered a major contributor in educating the public about the impacts of ALAN on human health - influencing numerous initiatives against light pollution.
Join us at 11:00 am (AEDT) on Thursday the 24th of February to learn more about the AMA guidelines and current research and recommendations on lighting and human health from Dr Maya Babu.
(Author Gabriella Allegretto - ADSA Youth Ambassador 2021)