Pavel Suchan | An Astronomer in Discussion with Lighting Professionals. Does Light Harm Us? Turn It Off or Keep It On?

Light gives us safety, comfort, and the beauty of public space. But what if there is too much of it? And what if what we consider progress is actually harming people, animals, plants, and the entire ecosystem? In this special episode, “Astronomer vs. Lighting Professionals” are in discussion. Different yet deeply expert perspectives on light pollution meet here. What is still efficient lighting, and where does light smog begin?

Pavel Suchan, an astronomer at the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, offers a clear view of the negative effects of excessive artificial light on the night sky, human health, animals, and the entire planet. On the other side, Milan Plíhal and Roman Závodský, experts in efficient and smart lighting, explain where light is necessary, how it can be regulated, and what responsible lighting means in the modern world.

We discuss the key questions: What is light smog and why should we care? Should we cut back on public lighting, or just change the way it is used? How does light affect people at night, sleep quality, and health? What about the night sky, biodiversity, birds, insects, and nature as a whole? How do we find a balance between safety, aesthetics, and nature?

Guests of the episode: Pavel Suchan, Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Milan Plíhal, Efektivní osvětlování, s.r.o. and Roman Závodský, Elstav lightning, s.r.o.