On a clear night in Pittsburgh, it can be hard to find more than a dozen stars. But Diane Turnshek, adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has dedicated her career to changing that. A longtime advocate for reducing light pollution, Turnshek is working to restore the brilliance of the night sky: one community, one policy, and one story at a time.
Her message is reaching wide audiences. In recent months, Turnshek has been featured in The New York Times: “Why This Pennsylvania City Put Its Streetlights on a Dimmer,” and on KDKA’s Talk Pittsburgh: “Pittsburgh installing new LED streetlights.” She was profiled by Department of English faculty member Amy Whipple in the August 2025 issue of Pittsburgh Magazine: “Who Is Diane Turnshek, Pittsburgh’s Dark Sky Advocate?”
Her press tour is far from over, as she will soon appear on the CityCast Pittsburgh podcast, and later this fall, she will take her advocacy to the international stage as an invited guest at Climate Forward during Climate Week NYC. She will also appear at SpaceBurgh 2025 at Pittsburgh’s Riverview Park on Sunday, Oct. 5.
The momentum reflects Turnshek’s ability to connect scientific expertise with public storytelling. By explaining how light pollution affects everything from human health to bird migration to energy consumption, she makes the issue personal, urgent, and actionable. Her voice has become a trusted one in both local and national conversations about how cities can balance progress with preservation.
Turnshek’s impact extends beyond her own work. She and fellow Physics and Astronomy faculty member Melanie L. Good recently contributed their voices to a space documentary, “NASA’s Mariner Missions,” directed by Dietrich School alumnus Jackson Tyler (A&S ’24), who studied History and Philosophy of Science and Film Production. In the first two weeks since it was posted to YouTube, the film has garnered over 100,000 views.
For Turnshek, the fight against light pollution isn’t just about stargazing. It’s about rethinking how cities use energy, protecting ecosystems disrupted by artificial light, and reconnecting communities with a sense of wonder that comes from looking up at the night sky.
She sees Pittsburgh as a model for what’s possible. From conversations in city neighborhoods to appearances on national stages, Turnshek hopes to spark a shift in how people think about light -- one that balances safety and progress with sustainability and beauty.
For more about Diane Turnshek, visit her website.
Photo credit: Laura Petrilla, Pittsburgh Magazine
Written by: Carly Petree