Dan Oakley
Dan is the Dark Skies Officer at the South Downs National Park Authority and International Dark Sky Reserve. He was responsible for creating and submitting the South Downs application to the IDA and continues to manages the National Parks delivery of dark skies. Dan uses his position to promote IDA messages, light pollution and astronomical opportunities to the residents and visitors of the South Downs. Originally a Physicist with an interest in astrophysics, Dan has further degrees in Wildlife Management, and a Masters in Environment, Policy and Society, but has happily swapped his time as a ranger with a chainsaw to delivery dark skies outreach behind a telescope. Dan is actively involved in enhancing lighting policy in the UK and is coordinating the establishment of a UK Dark Sky partnership with protected landscape partners with a goal of developing specific policies for dark skies. He also currently sits on the IDA Dark Sky Places Committee, is a director of IDA-UK Chapter and is the director Darkscape Consulting that provides specialist services for dark skies and light pollution.
