Lead
Dr Sophie Battell, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Prof. Charles Alexander Duncan Booker, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
Ass. Prof. Katharina Wulff, Umeå University, Sweden
Description
Cycles of light and dark structure human experience. But what happens when the hours of daylight expand or contract? During the Polar Day, the Sun never sets below the horizon within the Arctic Circle. What is modern life like under the Midnight Sun? How does constant light exposure affect body and mind?
This workshop invites critical reflection on daylight in the polar regions, including Norway and elsewhere.
Discussion topics might include but are not limited to the following.
- Spectacular technicolour light effects accompanying the Midnight Sun/ Polar Day and their counterparts the Northern Lights/ Polar Night, as well as other distinctive Nordic colours including the mysterious polar blue.
- The impact of the Midnight Sun on human health and well-being, e.g., disruption to circadian rhythms, sleep, changes to serotonin and melatonin levels, seasonal affective disorders, cognition.
- Challenges and opportunities for architecture and design, e.g., building at high latitudes, energy efficiency at the Arctic Circle. Design solutions such as full-spectrum lamps and other artificial sources of daylight, light ergonomics, innovative uses of solar energy.
- Cultural traditions to brighten the midwinter darkness and celebrate the return of the light. Nordic literature on the solstices. Global historical perspectives. Indigenous myths, cultural artefacts, and storytelling from the Arctic.
We welcome contributions from architecture, light technology, colour, chronobiology, circadian science, sleep, health, environment, culture and the arts, amongst other fields.
Objectives
- Generate cross-disciplinary discussions centred on polar daylight
- Make connections to the conference theme of sustainability
- Explore future avenues for collaboration