Noz Bihan

Mise à jour le   31/10/2024

Noz Bihan

© PNRGM, Saint-Goustan, Auray, Quai sud
Morbihan Énergies and the Noz Breizh chair share the same environmental and societal ambitions around nocturnal temporality, the former with an economic and political focus, the latter with the requirements of university research.

The Noz Breizh chair aims to achieve scientific results by crossing disciplines and operational possibilities at different territorial scales.

With this in mind, a partnership has been signed with Morbihan Énergies, an Établissement public de coopération intercommunale, which works and invests in renewable energy to ensure the development of the energy and digital transition.

Since 2022, the chair's team of researchers has been studying Brest's territory and its night-time development strategy, using a holistic, multidisciplinary approach. 

In 2023, we extend our project to the Morbihan area so as to test a transposition of the methods and participatory approaches currently explored in Brest metropolitan area.

To that extent, a first step consists in an inventory of the specific territorial characteristics (regional planning, local policies, players, etc.) related to nightlife and night-time planning in Morbihan. 

The aim of this research is to identify the issues involved in managing public lighting at local authority level, and to understand the practices, representations and feelings of residents and users of public spaces at night. These topics are explored alongside students involved in AUDE/AUTELI workshops between October 2023 and April 2024.

These portraits of communes will enable us to move towards the implementation of research-action adapted to the issues shaping the territory and the needs of the players involved (local authorities, businesses, associations, citizens...). 

In 2024, the qualitative survey continues with semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire. Participatory events will also be organized for consultation and to raise exchange and awareness. The results of the survey will be used to identify ideas for future night-time planning. 

In collaboration with Morbihan Énergies, five municipalities were defined as case studies: Carnac, Crac'h, Guidel, Inzinzac-Lochrist and Séné. But for an overall understanding of the dynamics, the analysis requires a broader territorial consideration. Hence it will cover the Lorient agglomeration, Golfe du Morbihan - Vannes agglomeration and the Auray Quiberon Terre Atlantique community of communes. 

Taking into account the presence of the Golfe du Morbihan Regional Nature Park is also crucial, as it embodies a strong commitment to preserving biodiversity and ecological continuity. 

On the one hand, it supports local authorities in the implementation of dark ecological networks to reduce the effects of light pollution. On the other hand, actions are designed to inform and raise awareness among the general public of the issues surrounding artificial light. 


Our meetings

A group of seven students from the Master 1 Aménagement et urbanisme program at Université de Bretagne Occidentale (Institut de Géoarchitecture), supervised by Edna Hernandez Gonzalez and Malou Allagnat, have first carried out a territorial diagnosis about night-time development in the municipalities of Guidel and Inzinzac-Lochrist.

Then, in light of the issues identified, participatory science tools were implemented, namely commented night walks and podcasts. These activities create spaces to foster discussion, information and awareness, involving all stakeholders concerned by night and light pollution.

In early March 2024, night-time walks were organized in two Morbihan communes: Inzinzac-Lochrist and Guidel. The initiative was spearheaded by the students, who also invited Bernard Goumon, President of Sterenn, the astronomy association of Lorient, to take part in the events.

A total of 35 people took part in these events meant to raise awareness of the impact of light pollution on the starry sky and biodiversity, and to question our individual and collective representations of the night...

As part of the territorial transpositions and Noz Bihan research project, the Chair was pleased to take part in a training session on "Light pollution and dark ecological networks" organized by the Golfe du Morbihan Regional Nature Park, on Monday January 22, 2024 in Saint-Avé.

This was an opportunity to present the context and objectives of the study carried out in Morbihan to elected representatives and technicians from the area.

©UBO/chaire Noz Breizh - Intervention de la chaire Noz Breizh sur une session de formation du PNRGM

Our publications regarding Noz Bihan

Scientific publications

Forthcoming

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Citation : Chaire Noz Breizh (2024), Noz Bihan : l’étude de la nuit s’invite dans la Morbihan, présenté dans le cadre du colloque Smart Noz, Brest, 18-20 mars 2024

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