Join us for Volcano Views & Brews lecture series with the Mt St Helens Institute!

This months topic: Dark Matters Above Mount St. Helens

Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. - Join us anytime after 5:00 p.m. for food and drink. $10 suggested donation.

Dawn Nilson will share why dark skies are important, particularly at the monument, and she will describe solutions to diminish light pollution as well as a specific plan to protect the pristine dark skies of the monument.

Since the Apollo 8 launched, Dawn has been hooked on astronomy. At a time when girls played only with baby dolls and “dress-up” Barbie, Dawn was wearing an astronaut costume and playing inside her miniature Gemini capsule. She was building model space ships and devouring every astronomy book in the public library. With Earth being her favorite planet, Dawn became a professional natural resources manager. Yet, Dawn’s passion for astronomy continues as a long-time board member and Dark Sky Preservation Director of Portland’s Rose City Astronomers and as an IDA Delegate. She regularly conducts “sidewalk” astronomy, teaches astronomy in elementary schools, creates and participates in public outreach events, and advocates locally for dark skies. As Chair of the newly formed Oregon Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association, she now advocates for dark skies statewide and is coordinating a campaign to designate Oregon’s first International Dark Sky Place.