Who we are

Anil Seth is a Professor or Physics & Astronomy at the University of Utah whose research focuses on nearby galaxies and their central massive black holes. He is one of the founders and instructors in the University of Utah’s Dark Sky Studies Minor program, and runs astronomy and dark sky outreach internships at Bryce Canyon National Park and in Torrey / Capitol Reef National Park.

Alan is a retired research chemist with wide interests in science, nature, and the fine arts.  He holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Utah and 39 US patents.  Alan and his wife Vickie are the heart of the Dark Skies Field Team, a small group of friends that has been involved in aiding the applications of at least eight different national parks and monuments as Dark Sky Places.  Alan and Vickie were jointly awarded the Dark Sky Defenders recognition at the 2019 IDA National Meeting. 

Heidi Hoven is a wetland and avian ecologist. She is the senior manager of National Audubon Society’s Gillmor Sanctuary where she learned first-hand of an alarming and growing threat to migrating birds – light pollution. Now she leads a community science program that monitors light pollution across Salt Lake Valley with partners from Utah Valley University and Great Salt Lake Audubon to document location-based changes in light pollution to help support improvement in outdoor lighting policy for people, birds and other wildlife.

Karen Miller is a retired physician deeply concerned about the negative health impacts of light pollution on all living beings. She is currently working with DarkSky Utah to finalize and implement procedures for the new Dark Sky Utah license plate, which has been approved by the Utah State Legislature. Karen hopes to increase awareness among healthcare leadership about the dangers of artificial light at night for patients and staff. Educational efforts in her neighborhood are paying off, with noticeably better outdoor lighting. 

Daniel Jensen is a Principal Planner with Sunrise Engineering in Utah County. He works with cities and counties throughout the Intermountain West on general plans, zoning, and policy development. His interest in dark skies is rooted in the practical role that outdoor lighting standards play in shaping community character, protecting night environments, and reducing light pollution. Through his planning work and service on the Dark Sky Utah board, he focuses on translating dark sky principles into clear, workable local policy.

Tom Dansie the Director of Community Development in the Town of Springdale, Utah, the gateway to Zion National Park. Tom’s professional career has been focused on helping gateway and rural communities develop community-supported, thoughtful, and effective plans and policies to promote resident quality of life and enhance community wellbeing. He has been a leader in dark sky advocacy and was a key member of the team that secured Dark Sky Community Designation for the Town of Springdale.

 Duke Johnson is the Director of the Clark Planetarium where he works to provide inspirational experiences for a wide audience. He holds a master’s degree in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota. Growing up in North Dakota, he enjoyed truly dark night skies and amazing views of the Milky Way. The advent of digital photography allowed him to focus on place-based astrophotography throughout Utah and surrounding states. Through his adventures in photography, he has seen firsthand how our clear dark skies have disappeared over the last 20 years.

Lisa Stoneris a DarkSky Advocate who served the last 4 years as Coordinator for the Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range Dark Sky Cooperatives, based out of the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University. Her work focuses on outreach, educational programs, and partnerships to elevate the importance of naturally dark night skies and minimizing light pollution. As Coordinator, Lisa co-developed and facilitated the CPDSC Quarterly CONNECTIONS, an educational series to promote the protection and management of dark skies and helped create Utah’s first Dark Sky Passport.

Richard Tenney is currently the president of the Utah Valley Astronomy Club, and member of the lighting ordinance committee.  He has been actively involved throughout most of his life to bringing public awareness to the beauty and wonder of the night sky.