Climate change by night

Circle U. Event: Climate change by night

The Happy Hour Events of Circle U. are short scientific events, consisting in two keynote lectures, a set of small pitch presentations and a final debate.
Circle U. is pleased to invite you to their new Happy Hour Event: Climate change by night.

The night, too, suffers from climate change. Explore its impacts on nature, cities, and our daily rhythms. A fascinating topic at the crossroads of environmental science, health, and social studies — open to all curious minds!

Understanding the impacts of climate change on nighttime processes presents several scientific challenges, primarily due to the complex interplay between temperature, light, and biological rhythms.

For ecosystems, this can alter plant respiration rates, pollination patterns, and nocturnal animal behavior, with cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. In human health, warmer nights impede restful sleep, exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and increase vulnerability to heat stress, especially in urban areas where the urban heat island effect intensifies nighttime warming.

Two keynote lectures will be given: 
- Keynote 1: “Deciphering Natural Fluorescence of Arthropods”, by Pr. Bernd Schöllhorn, Université de Paris.
- Keynote 2: “The dark side of bright nights: understanding the role of skyglow on nocturnal organisms”, by Pr. Ruben Evens, UCLouvain.

The event will take place in Riviere room (de Serres building) or online, by Teams. 

More information and registration: https://www.uclouvain.be/fr/louvain4water/news/29/10/2025-circle-u.-climate-hub-4th-happy-hour-event.