Five plenary sessions are scheduled, approaching the main areas of the Initiative, as well as a Final Session aimed at the debate and approval of the "World Declaration on the Right to the Starlight" and of a proposal of Action Plan. Time limits for presentations have been established to favour the debate on proposals related with the Initiative objectives.

The Scientific Committee would select 30 papers that will be presented during the plenary sessions, and each session will start with an introduction by a keynote speaker. It will also decide about presentations in the parallel sessions. The number of papers that will be scheduled during the parallel session will not exceed 40. The organisation will also make available appropriate rooms for specific meetings of thematic groups that would like to debate action or initiative proposals within the Conference objectives..

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Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

• Importance of clean sky and possibility to observe the firmament in nowadays cultures.
• Putting into value the cultural heritage related with star observation and the history of astronomy.
• Social, cultural and human benefits.
• The need to preserve nocturnal landscapes.
• The importance of night clean sky in biodiversity conservation and its influence on habitats and species.
• Environmental effects of the loss of sky quality.
• Night sky quality and protected areas.
• Experiences and possibilities to include sky quality into protected area conservation strategies.
• Effects to star observation of the different sources of pollution.
• Actions in defence of clear sky for astrophysics development.
• Night Sky Reserves for astronomic observation.
• Economic benefits related with astrophysics development.
• Advanced experiences and projects on responsible lighting and the defence of the night sky.
• The paper of the lighting industry.
• State-of-the-art technology in defence of the sky quality.
• Intelligent lighting, energy saving and efficiency.
• Sustainable energy communities and quality of the night sky.
• Emission reduction and improvement of the night sky.
• The right to the starlight in its cultural, scientific and environmental dimensions.
• Experience and development of laws, codes and municipal regulations in defence of the night sky.
• Taking into account the night sky in human habitat planning.
• The night sky in sustainable development planning.
• Starred sky as an attraction of responsible tourism. Night sky reserves and sustainable tourism.
• Reserves for night sky observation. Experiences and possibilities.
• Network initiatives on the "Reserves of the Stars": Cities, protected areas communities, regions, etc.

Those initiatives experiences and cases that can be used as a reference with possibility of replication, within the framework of the Conference objectives, have a special interest and priority.

The Conference organisation would set a Virtual Symposium with the aim to make possible the participation of of all persons and bodies interested in the Starlight Initiative which are not able to participate for any reason. Virtual participants would contribute by sending their presentation in  PowerPoint format, or as a compatible video, and they will be shown in a computer area located close to  the entrance to   Teatro Chico, the Conference venue. Virtual participation will be considered on the same level as the "physical" one, with the same conditions of submission and will be included in the Conference proceedings.

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Conditions for the presentation of Posters/Exhibitors/Multimedia...>
 

If you have questions, please contact:
Giuseppe Orlando
Starlight 2007 Secretariat
c/. General Mola 35 - Entlo.
38007 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tel.: +34 922 230688
Fax: +34 922 200952
Email: unescocan@unescocan.org