Maltese astrophysicist wins international Dark Sky Defender Award
Prof Joseph Caruana has distinguished himself in fighting light pollution
Maltese astrophysicist and Wirt Għawdex president Joseph Caruana has been declared the winner of the DarkSky International 2025 Dark Sky Defender Award for the European continent in recognition of his long-standing commitment to combating light pollution across the Maltese Islands.
The award recognised his integration of “scientific research, advocacy, and public engagement to highlight the cultural, ecological, and scientific value of dark skies”. The award was presented during this year’s edition of Under One Sky, an annual international conference organised by DarkSky International.
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Arizona in the United States, DarkSky is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the nocturnal environment from the harmful effects of light pollution. Its Dark Sky Defender Award honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to dark-sky conservation in their region. The 2025 European award highlighted Caruana’s research work to quantitatively map the night sky brightness on an archipelago that faces intense light-pollution pressure.
Prof Joseph Caruana.Light pollution is a global problem that affects biodiversity and human health, and erodes our connection to the cosmos, making us lose part of our heritage. It also entails energy waste, for improperly designed lighting fixtures end up emitting a lot of light skyward, where it is not needed.
Prof Caruana has led light-pollution research efforts since 2017 at the University of Malta’s Department of Physics & Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy. Under his direction, a study published in 2020 presented the first detailed photometric mapping of night-sky brightness across the Maltese archipelago – a landmark achievement in quantifying the sky glow over the Maltese archipelago, showing that the Milky Way was visible from less than 13% of the Islands’ surface. It also identified problem sources of light pollution.
Beyond his scientific research, Caruana has tirelessly championed the protection of Dwejra – the Maltese Islands’ best remaining dark site. As part of his outreach initiatives, he has developed dedicated websites respectively focussed on light pollution and on Dwejra.
A frequent public speaker, he has delivered numerous talks and interviews raising awareness about the issue. Caruana has repeatedly called on authorities to adopt well-designed lighting and enact enforcable policies and laws that are guided by scientific research. This would improve the lighting quality and contribute to a safer environment, all while minimising negative impacts on the natural environment and human health.
In addition to his academic and advocacy roles, since 2021 Caruana has served as president of the environmental NGO Wirt Għawdex, a Gozo-based heritage-conservation organisation that promotes the protection of Gozo’s natural and cultural environment.
Caruana, who was also invited to speak about current research and scientific gaps in light pollution studies during this year’s Under One Sky Conference, dedicated the award to his students at the University of Malta, volunteers within the Astronomical Society of Malta and the Light Pollution Awareness Group, and environmental NGOs