Catherine Pérez Vega
(Panama, Panama City, 1990).
Dr. rer. nat. Catherine Pérez Vega works at the interface of ecology and lighting design. She holds a doctorate in Natural Science from Freie Universität Berlin, with research conducted at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries and focused on light pollution in urban and aquatic habitats. She also holds a Master’s in Architectural Lighting from Hochschule Wismar. Through this unique background, she bridges environmental science, design practice, and communication strategies.
As a freelance consultant, Catherine conducts nighttime light measurements and environmental assessments, designs lighting strategies and masterplans that consider biodiversity thresholds, and develops communication frameworks that make ecological complexity accessible to diverse audiences. She has authored and co-authored research on artificial light at night, moderated conference series on the transdisciplinarity of light design and research, and facilitates lectures and workshops across Europe on integrating night ecology into design thinking. Her graphic communication work—through visuals, diagrams, infographics, and photography—translates scientific evidence into clarity for practitioners and decision-makers.
Catherine’s work focuses on reducing light pollution through strategic communication that integrates ecological knowledge into lighting practice, advocating for nature-connected planning of spaces after dusk.
WORK EXPERIENCE
November 2025 – present
Lighting Designer and Light Pollution Researcher (Freelance)
Sustainable Lighting and Environmental Consultancy
Berlin, Germany
Overview: Working at the intersection of architectural lighting design, ecology and communication. Through my work, I help cities and organisations reduce light pollution with sustainable lighting design that serves both people and preserves night ecology.
June 2021 – Jul 2023
Doctoral Researcher in Light Pollution
Light Pollution and Ecopsychology Research Group Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Germany.
Overview: Investigated the environmental impacts of artificial light on urban aquatic systems, developed strategies to bridge the disciplines of ecology and lighting design, and lectures on ecology. Conducted original research, published findings in peer-reviewed journals, and translated scientific insights into environmentally-friendly lighting applications.
Jan 2018 – Jun 2018
Designer (Freelance)
Panama City, Panama
Overview: Art direction, photography and photojournalism projects exhibited at the Panamanian Metropolitan National Park (Parque Nacional Metropolitano de Panamá), exhibition “Napguana”, Panama Horror Film Fest (Festival de Cine de Terror de Panamá), exhibition “Temíbles las brujas” and Casco Viejo, exhibition “Ya se me olvidó, pero ya he vivido todo esto”.
Aug 2016 – Mar 2017
Assistant Lighting Designer
WONDERFULIGHT, Bordeaux, France
Overview: Designed urban lighting master plans and the graphic communication of project proposals in France.
Assistant Lighting Designer
Jun 2014 – Nov 2014
Beau&Bien, Paris, France
Overview: Assisted with lighting concepts, products and design ideas for the brand Beau&Bien.
Jun 2013 – Aug 2013
Assistant Art Director
Global Design Agency Carré Basset, Paris, France
Overview: Assist in developing design concepts and brainstorming mood boards, sketches, mockups, and technical drawings for brands including Dom Pérignon, Pérrier-Jouet, Möet et Chandon, Lalique, Kilian, and Taittinger.
ACADEMIC EDUCATION
Aug 2018 – Apr 2024. Doctor of Natural Sciences, Dr. rer. nat. Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Dissertation: The environmental impact of light pollution in urban settings: gaps, challenges and sustainable lighting design. Mention: Magna cum laude.
Jun 2015 – Jul 2017. Master‘s in Architectural Lighting Design. Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business, and Design, Wismar, Germany. Title of master’s thesis: The environmental impact of lighting design on flora and fauna. Recommendations for lighting designers.
2011 – 2014. Bachelor of Arts in Product Design. L’École Supérieure de Design de Troyes, Troyes, France.
2009 – 2011. Baccalauréat de 120 crédits à l’Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
SKILLS AND TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY
Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom)
DaVinci Resolve for video editing
Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
R Studio for data analysis
DiaLUX evo and AutoCAD for conceptualising and designing lighting plans
iQlum (luminance)
DSLR Cameras for measuring light pollution and photography
Sky Quality Meter (night-sky radiance/brightness)
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2025 LiTG -Nachwuchspreis Licht, Technik und Gestaltung 2025 (LiTG Young Talent Award in Light, Technology and Design) in Category II: Dissertations.
2018 Three-year scholarship granted by Hochschule Wismar to pursue doctoral studies.
2016 Winner of the Call for Papers competition LSW2016.
RECENT CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS AND PRESENTATIONS
2024 Zukunftsfähiges Beleuchten Symposium. Berlin, Germany. Poster presentation on “The environmental impact of artificial lighting in urban settings: gaps, challenges and
sustainable lighting”.
2024 International Light Symposium at the University of South Eastern Norway, Konsberg, Norway. Speaker for session on Sustainability.“The environmental impact of artificial lighting in urban settings: gaps, challenges and sustainable lighting”.
2024 International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), German Chapter. Berlin, Germany. Speaker, “Insights from the interface of ecology and lighting design”.
2021 eALAN, Artificial Light at Night Conference. Panel Discussion Chair for the session on “Recent and future changes in outdoor lighting”.
2022 Responsible Outdoor Lighting At Night (ROLAN). Conference Speaker, “Towards collaborative interfaces between ecology and lighting design”.
2021 Smart Light Days. Conference Speaker, “ECOSLIGHT: Alliance for better education in the lighting sector”.
2020 eALAN Artificial Light At Night. Conference Speaker, “Urban Lighting Research – Collaboration Process with Lighting Professionals”.
2018 Visualistmo. Conference Speaker, “Let’s talk about light”, Panama City, Panama.
2017 LED Forum, Sao Paolo, Brazil. Conference Speaker, “The Environmental Influence of Lighting Design on Flora and Fauna. Recommendations for Lighting Designers”.
2016 Light Symposium, Wismar, Germany. Conference Speaker, “The Environmental Influence of Lighting Design on Flora and Fauna. Recommendations for Lighting Designers”.
PRESS AND MENTIONS
2025 Lichtverschmutzung und ihre Auswirkungen auf Mensch und Tier — Interview mit Catherine Pérez Vega. Space Eye, Observatorium für Weltraum und Umwelt, In German (DE).
2022 Translating Research into Practice Dark Sky, In English (EN).
2022 Light Pollution is Real. Restoring Darkness Podcast, Episode #48
2019 Article “Follow the Light. Where to search for useful research information.” Zielinska- Dabkowska.
2018 10 Jahre Light Symposium Wismar (LSW) 2008-2018. Rohde & Zielinska-Dabkowska.
LECTURES
2025 The Environmental Impact of Artificial Lighting in Urban Settings: From Measurements to Conceptual Model. KTH, Royal Institute of Technology. Course: HS2008.
2021 – 2023 Understand and Promote the Ecological Value of Sustainable Lighting. ECOSLIGHT.
2021 – 2023 Understand the sustainable assessment of lighting systems and solutions: purposes, methodologies, standards. ECOSLIGHT.
2021 – 2023 Understand the selection criteria of lighting services/systems, and products in terms of sustainability. ECOSLIGHT.Doctoral Researcher, Aug. 2021 – Apr. 2023
Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Berlin, Germany
Catherine Pérez Vega 