Local Student Addresses UN on Light Pollution
He's bright enough to warn us about too much brightness – in the night skies, that is.
Rushil Kukreja, a 15-year-old high school junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) in Fairfax County is making a global impact through his nonprofit organization, Princia, a 501(c)(3) and the only student-led initiative with a worldwide reach dedicated to addressing light pollution.
Along with top scientists from around the world, Kukreja was invited in September to serve as a panelist for the Science Summit at the U.N. General Assembly in New York City and to present and responded to questions about Princia's work on light pollution.
"Under Rushil’s leadership, Princia has expanded to include over 250 advocates spanning six continents, tackling the environmental, health, and ecological impacts of light pollution through policy, education, and community engagement," a press release from Princia stated.
What is Light Pollution?
The organization DarkSky International illuminates the meaning of "light pollution." It's the "human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally," and "when we over-light, fail to use timers and sensors, or use the wrong color of light, we can negatively affect many parts of our world, including migratory birds, pollinators, sea turtles, and mammals, including humans."
"At Princia, we are committed to addressing the pervasive issue of light pollution. By tackling light pollution, we not only protect our night sky but also improve human health, conserve energy, and support wildlife," Princia's website says.
A Personal Mission
Kukreja’s mission is deeply personal.
"Growing up in an apartment with bright city lights, [Kukreja] developed a passion for stargazing but saw firsthand how light pollution robbed communities of the night sky," the press release said. "This issue hit even closer to home when his aunt – a nurse working long nighttime shifts during the pandemic – was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her diagnosis, along with similar cases among her colleagues, raised concerns about the potential role of disrupted circadian rhythms caused by artificial lighting. This personal experience motivated Rushil to address light pollution as not just an environmental issue but also a human health crisis."
Kukreja's United Nations appearance was reported Dec. 27 on WTOP News. "Lots of teenagers spend their time relaxing over winter break; but 15-year-old Rushil Kukreja was busy meeting with state lawmakers in Virginia about light pollution," the report began. "Along with his academics, Kukreja, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, always had a [piqued] interest in astronomy. But the hazy night sky made it hard for him to enjoy it. “It’s often very difficult to see the stars and see the Milky Way due to light pollution,” he said.
See Kukreja's WTOP story here:
Kate Ryan
In Virginia, Kukreja is working with Del. Rip Sullivan (D - 6th District, Fairfax) and others to propose groundbreaking legislation targeting light pollution. He's also leading similar efforts in five other states.
Globally, Princia has reached more than 13,000 individuals through educational campaigns and advocacy efforts, earning recognition for its innovative solutions. The organization’s work has also secured a prestigious grant from Cornell University to further its mission.
Kukreja’s efforts have "taken him to some of the world’s most influential stages, including the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where he presented actionable solutions for light pollution mitigation," the press release said. "By mobilizing a worldwide network of advocates and inspiring communities to protect the night sky, Kukreja’s leadership continues to shine as a beacon for environmental sustainability and ecosystem preservation."
On Dr. Diane's Podcast
On Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor's "Adventures in Learning" podcast "Transforming Nights and Minds with Princia.org Founder (and High School Junior!) Rushil Kukreja," listeners are enticed to learn about Kukreja's "journey from a high school astronomy enthusiast to a leading voice against light pollution."
On the podcast, Kukreja demonstrates impressive scientific acumen while sharing Princia's remarkably effective education, outreach and advocacy strategies.
"Discover the captivating journey of Rushil Kukreja, a passionate advocate for dark skies, as he sheds light on the unseen effects of light pollution. From stargazing to global advocacy, Rushil's story is a beacon of hope and action for a clearer night sky," Dr. Diane tells listeners. "Learn about the profound impact of artificial lighting on stargazing, wildlife, and human health, and how Rushil's work (and that of the hundreds of high school, college, and graduate-level collaborators around the world) is raising global awareness."
Kukreja recounts to Dr. Diane how he came to focus on light pollution. "I’ve always been interested in astronomy. I love to look out at the night sky with my telescope. And one of the things I often realized but never really thought about to wonder why it’s happening is that often the night sky is very hazy and it’s very difficult to see stuff, even with the telescope, especially living in such a metropolitan area in northern Virginia. And when I started to look into the issue, I realized that this was because of light pollution."
Health Implications
"And light pollution isn’t something that just harms our astronomical observations," Kukreja continues. "It’s also something that causes a lot of health issues. It disrupts wildlife. It wastes a lot of energy. So I chose to get involved with DarkSky International which is an organization that is heavily focused on light pollution. And what I realized is that even though this is such an important issue, it’s often something that’s neglected and overlooked, especially among students and the younger population and that’s why I decided to start Princia as an organization dedicated to stopping light pollution that would be focused on the student perspective and the perspective of this next generation."
Light pollution affects “a huge variety of issues,” Kukreja tells Dr. Diane, "from health impacts on humans to hundreds of millions of migratory bird deaths each year. Lit windows at night can draw birds off course as they migrate at night, and the resulting light pollution kills 600 million birds each and every year."
"Just like water and air pollution, light pollution is a form of pollution that goes hand in hand with those," Kukreja continues. "It’s a form of pollution that really causes a lot of issues.... It also hurts other animals, like sea turtles, and at the same time it disrupts human circadian rhythms so that it can lead to things like sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and at the same time it’s just an excess waste of light. So it wastes a lot of energy [and] it wastes a lot of money. So it has these impacts on the environmental side, the human health side, the economic side and so it’s really kind of an issue that affects all aspects of human nature — and not just human nature, but the entire environment around us. But, at the same time, it’s not something that’s often addressed as much as other issues."
What distinguishes Kukreja's and Princia's efforts, however, is their collaborative approach to research and publishing scientific and educational materials.
Research Teams
"Right now, we have over 100 advocates from six continents, so every continent other than Antarctica," Kukreja tells Dr. Diane. "We basically have, working together, research teams each focusing on a specific aspect of light pollution and it’s really catered to people’s interests. Some of our advocates are more concerned with the intersection of the environment and the economy. So they might be looking at a research paper on the economic impact of light pollution. Or, others have skills in computer science that they’d like to apply. So we have a team of researchers, currently working on researching, using satellite data, the light pollution that might arise in cities currently being developed. There’s really a huge variety in what people might be doing."
Publishing Research Papers
"Just last week we published a paper on the impact of light pollution on human health," Kukreja says. "And we just received word that that paper is in the top-10 in that journal. We’ve also been working on advocacy. We’ve been talking with local, state, and national legislators, trying to get policies passed in each level of government to address light pollution. Then, at the same time, we’re also trying to raise awareness and educate people about the issue. So things like creating social media posts about it, going to different outreach events, and speaking about light pollution. And we were invited to the United Nations to speak about light pollution. So that was a great experience to kind of get the word out about it as well."
Providing Teaching Materials
Princia is also dedicated to providing elementary and middle schools with science-oriented curricular materials on light pollution.
"The first thing we’ve been trying to do is to raise awareness in education," Kukreja says. "One of the things that Fairfax County Public Library started just a few months ago, was they started to provide light pollution monitoring kits. So, we’re trying to get something similar in other community libraries as well. So, people can just borrow this kit and try to understand more about light pollution in general and actually measure the levels where they live, because that helps raise awareness and that helps get education done in the schools. And in the longer term, actually creating new lighting ordinances. This is something that municipalities and states have begun doing. So, lighting ordinances that limit the brightness of lights, both for residential and commercial buildings, and then any new government-operated street lights that are put in should be properly shielded."
A Humble Take
Despite his impressive achievements, Kukreja remains humble about his role as the founder of Princia. "It’s definitely not just me who’s carrying the burden of the organization. It’s a huge community of people and we’re all working together," he tells Dr. Diane.
"My parents have always supported me throughout my journey," he says. "But, especially with regards to light pollution. I kind of started off getting started with DarkSky [International] and the people over there were very helpful. Some of them really encouraged me to create the student arm and actually get students involved in the issue by creating my own organization, so they’ve been an incredible resource for support throughout the journey as well. I’ve spoken to teachers at my school as well. They’ve all been very encouraging. And they’ve helped me out whenever I’ve had any questions about anything. So, really it’s been a journey where I’ve had a lot of mentors who’ve been great in helping me out."
By Christopher Jones
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