As a Project BEACON community scientist, you’ll spend the evening helping collect real ecological data outside at Cranbrook Institute of Science or Oakland County Parks while exploring how artificial light at night shapes our experience of the nighttime environment.
About Project BEACON
Project BEACON (Biodiversity and Environmental Assessment of Community Observations at Night) is the in-house, flagship Community Science Network research project for Cranbrook Institute of Science. BEACON is focused on gaining a deeper understanding of how artificial light at night affects insect communities in metro Detroit. As light pollution continues to rapidly expand on a global scale, the impact this has on nocturnal species remains one of the most rapidly changing, and least understood, environmental challenges.
BEACON aims to expand our understanding of the nocturnal ecosystem through guided observation, data collection and hands-on field experiences in both ecology and astronomy. Just as importantly, BEACON aims to shift how we think about the night—not as something to illuminate and overlook, but as a vital, dynamic ecosystem worth observing, understanding, and protecting.
This project is funded via ASTC and iNaturalist’s Seeding Action program, and in partnership with Oakland County Parks.
Your Role as a Project BEACON Community Scientist
Participants will assist with:
- Setting and monitoring insect traps.
- Recording sky brightness measurements.
- Contributing nighttime biodiversity observations through iNaturalist.
- Participating in insect sheeting activities that may attract moths, beetles, caddisflies, and other nocturnal insects.
Throughout the evening, participants will also:
- Observe and listen for bats and other nighttime wildlife
- Take part in guided astronomical observations of the moon, stars, constellations, and seasonal celestial objects.
Beyond data collection, Project BEACON asks participants to slow down and intentionally experience the night. Through guided journaling prompts, photography, and personal reflection, community scientists will document how their perceptions of darkness, safety, wildlife, sound, and the night sky shift throughout the project.
Participants will be encouraged to reflect on questions like:
- What do we notice when artificial light is removed?
- How does darkness change the way we experience nature?
- What nighttime species and sounds are normally hidden from us?
These reflections will become part of the project’s larger StoryMap and outreach efforts connecting scientific research with personal experience.
Training Sessions
All participants must attend one training session on either Friday, June 12, 2026, or Thursday, June 18, 2026 (~8:00pm to 11:00pm) at Cranbrook Institute of Science.
After training, all Project BEACON Community Scientists are expected to participate in the main project night on Saturday, June 27, 2026 (~8:00pm to 11:00pm).
Registration
Space for Project BEACON is limited and advance registration is required. Please register using the link below and select one of the two required training dates.
Additional Information
Additional details about meeting locations, what to bring, accessibility considerations, and project materials will be shared with registered participants prior to the event.
We welcome participants with all levels of experience — whether you are new to community science or already love insects, astronomy, photography, or nighttime ecology.