It was thirty-one years ago that IDA founders, Tim Hunter, and David Crawford noticed a shift in the quality of the night. Light was encroaching on the natural darkness and threatening our pristine skies. A small community of amateur and professional astronomers speaking on behalf of dark skies soon attracted the attention of others. The night, it turns out, is for more than just the stars. Entomologists, educators, artists, doctors, ecologists, and others quickly joined the chorus. IDA grew, expanded, became stronger and more organized.
Our focus is to lead a worldwide movement of nighttime conservation by leveraging our position as the recognized authority on light pollution. To do this, we will strategically focus our efforts on empowering and enhancing IDA Chapter leaders and grassroots advocates who are working on the ground to raise awareness about the issue. We see our role as serving this network of advocates by providing resources, education, and training to these passionate supporters who will use the information we provide to change their communities, and ultimately the world.