CIM and CITIC, members of the CIGUS Network, join forces to study light pollution in the Vigo and Pontevedra costal inlets

The University of Vigo’s Centre for Marine Research (CIM) and the University of A Coruña’s Information and Communication Technologies Research Centre Centro (CITIC-UDC) have reached a strategic collaboration agreement to study light pollution in the Vigo and Pontevedra coastal inlets. The two institutions, members of the Galician University System Network of Research Centres (CIGUS Network), have joined forces to assess the impact of nocturnal light on the biological productivity of these major ecosystems.

The collaboration between these research centres is an example of synergies generated within the Network, an initiative launched by the regional government (Xunta de Galicia) that group centres of proven scientific excellence within the Galician university system. “Synergies such as this are essential in order to open up new areas of study aligned with society’s needs today”, explained Daniel Rey, director of the CIM. He went on to stress that “all the research staff involved in the project, both from the CIM and CITIC, will contribute their own visions from various fields of study in order to analyse the current reality of our coastal inlets”.

Progress in knowledge transfer

Manuel F. González Penedo, CITIC’s director, stated, “this project is further step forward in CITIC-UDC’s drive to transfer knowledge to society. In this case, it highlights the practical application of certain technological solutions (a photometer) in the ocean economy (mussel production) within the context of light pollution, and ultimately, sustainable development”.

The director also expressed his satisfaction that collaboration between the two centres allows “talent and knowledge from leading centres and universities to come together, adding value to long-term projects and enabling our work to benefit society, further proof of our capacity to respond to its needs.” “Projects such as this highlight the strategic importance of connecting research centres such as the  CITIC and the CIM with the social and productive fabric – a connection that public administrations, in their role as a channel for public resources, are obliged to promote for the benefit of all.”

Measuring light pollution to curb its impact

Light pollution, a growing problem in recent years, not only prevents our enjoyment when observing the night sky, but also affects a large number of nocturnal species and may have harmful effects for human health.   The Gaia4Sustainability project, coordinated by CITIC (University of A Coruña) and the University of Barcelona, has developed a nocturnal brightness model based on data provided by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Gaia satellite. Another achievement is the creation of a low-cost photometer, known as   FreeDSM, to provide a standardised method for measuring light pollution that is also accessible to the general public.