Speaker
Description
The menace of light pollution is currently a major problem for astronomers, and there is an urgent need for scientific and societal intervention. This project used the principles of automation technology through the Internet of Things (IoT) to provide solutions to light pollution. Also, this project adopted a citizen science approach for dark sky advocacy among its participants. This project, through in-house and online workshops, reached out to a total of 220 undergraduate participants selected from universities within Enugu, Anambra, and Ekiti States, Nigeria. During the in-house workshops, both hardware and software components were used. The hardware components were a NodeMCU ESP8266 Wi-Fi board, ultrasonic and photo-resistive sensors, jumper cables, a breadboard, and other necessary items provided in the training kit. The software used was Python 3, MicroPython firmware, the CP2102 driver, Thonny IDE, and Esptool. The key activity of the workshop sessions was developing a script to automate streetlights in the "City on a Table Standalone System," a simulation based on light intensity and proximity sensors. This system operated in daytime (lights off) and nighttime (lights on) modes with energy conservation mechanisms to reduce light pollution when no users were detected. The citizen science projects adopted during the workshops were the use of the Globe at Night application, the use of sky quality meters, and the use of the Anecdata application. The project also organised a stargazing session at the University of Nigeria for dark sky advocacy. Comparison of the pre- and post-workshop surveys of this project showed a significant 55% increased interest in MicroPython scriptwriting and IoT network configuration. This project showed how low-cost indigenous materials can be used to mitigate light pollution through automated systems, emphasising the importance of sustainable practices in urban environments.
| Stream | Education Development and Outreach |
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