Working towards better understanding light pollution and how it affects our world.
Who We Are
The Network for Ecological Research on Artificial Light (NERAL) is made up of professionals from academia, consultancy, and local and federal government. Our aim is to provide a platform to connect researchers and practitioners working across different realms (i.e. terrestrial, freshwater, marine environments), drive large spatial - and temporal - scale research projects, and serve as a contact point for anyone seeking information on the impacts of light pollution on wildlife.
Currently, NERAL is a nation-wide network operating in Australia.
Our Mission
By connecting researchers, practitioners and managers across Australia, NERAL facilitates research on the ecological impacts of artificial light at night and informs the development of ecologically-friendly lighting policy and practice.
The Problem With Light
Light pollution is one of the most pervasive forms of environmental change that ecosystems are facing. NERAL is working to understand how the presence of artificial light at night can alter natural light rhythms and interfere with the behaviour and physiology of individual organisms, with potential flow-on effects leading to whole ecosystems impacts.