From the City of Cambridge, Dec. 11: The Cambridge Public Health Department and Cambridge Electrical Department will host a panel discussion to review the LED street lighting conversion and discuss the larger issues surrounding circadian health sleep cycles at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square.

The conversion to LED street lighting has been part of the effort to reduce energy use at the municipal level. The panelists will offer a brief update on the LED street lighting project and broaden the discussion to examine the larger context of artificial lighting from all sources and the effects of post-dusk lighting on our sleep cycles. There will be time for questions to the panel after a brief overview.

The panelists are:

Steven W, Lockley, Harvard Medical School: A neuroscientist in the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School. He is also a professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He got his Ph.D. in 1997 from the University of Surrey after studying circadian rhythms in the blind. He has 20 years of experience on sleep and circadian rhythm research and is a specialist in the effects of light on the circadian pacemaker and other “non-visual” responses to light. He advises NASA on jet lag and shift work, including use of lighting to help circadian adaptation, alertness and promotion of sleep. He has published more than 100 original reports, reviews, chapters and editorials on sleep and circadian rhythms and his research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, NASA, the Department of Defense and others. He recently co-wrote “Sleep: A Very Short Introduction” from Oxford University Press.

Glenn Heinmiller: A principal at Lam Partners in Cambridge. Using his expertise in producing high-quality electric and daylighting solutions with minimized energy use and negative environmental impact, he has designed daylight and electric lighting systems for a diverse range of commercial, institutional and civic projects. As chairman of the International Association of Lighting Designers’ energy and sustainability committee, he manages the the organization’s participation in sustainability initiatives and the review of and contribution to standards, regulations and rating systems development. He is a LEED-accredited professional and serves as a U.S. Green Building Council subject matter expert. Heinmiller is National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions lighting certified and a member of the International Dark-Sky Association. He is also a guest instructor in lighting design at the Boston Architectural College and lectures and writes on the subjects of light pollution control, lighting codes and lighting energy efficiency.

Stephen Lenkauskas, Cambridge Electrical Department: Has 35 years of experience in construction, installation and troubleshooting of electrical systems. His past 28 years have been in Cambridge’s Electrical Department. He was appointed city electrician in November 2013 and is serving as the project manager for the city’s conversion to LED street lighting, including parks and pathways.

Paul Lutkevich: Has more than 32 years of experience in the design and research of exterior lighting systems. He is past chairman of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America’s Roadway Lighting Committee and the society’s Technical Review Council. He is a member of the Commission Internationale De L’Eclairage (International Commission on Illumination) for signal and transport, including the technical committees for security, roadways and obtrusive light. He is involved in the development of national and international standards for outdoor lighting. Recent research and publications include the Federal Highway Administration’s lighting handbook, its Strategic Initiative for the Evaluation of Reduced Lighting on Roadways and Transportation Association of Canada Roadway Lighting Guide. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Executive Director’s Award of the International Darksky Association, a Lifetime Award for Outstanding Research and Technical Contributions from the Illuminating Engineering Society Roadway Lighting Committee and its President’s Award for significant contributions of technical data and application criteria to the society.

For information, including a fact sheet on the street light conversion and sleep cycles, click here.