A portable inflatable planetarium for Lancashire and Cumbria
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
With this Spark Award, combined with existing funding from Lancaster University, we will purchase all of the equipment for an inflatable planetarium for Lancashire and Cumbria. The planetarium will be based in Lancaster, which is ~50 miles away from the nearest existing facilities (in Liverpool and Manchester). We will use the planetarium to engage children and adults in astronomy in a variety of circumstances including school visits, local events and festivals. We expect to engage in excess of ~7,000 people per year with the facility, and >~70,000 over it's likely >~10 year lifetime. We will particularly target local schools with a high fraction of low socioeconomic status (SES) students, and local people at non-traditional STEM events.
Planned Impact
We will set up a dedicated website and social media presence for the planetarium, which will be used for both disseminating resources and advertising the planetarium's availability and upcoming events. This will include a side targeted at members of the public containing relevant materials like video clips and links to external sites with astronomical information and data project (e.g. Galaxy Zoo, Planet Hunters). The other part of the website will be aimed at other scientists, educators and communicators with resources such as components from our shows and links to external planetarium materials.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Julie Wardlow (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | With this award we purchased a portable inflatable planetarium (dubbed "LUniverse") that is used to bring planetarium shows to schools, community groups, and the public, predominantly in Lancashire and Cumbria. The resulting planetarium program was ramping-up when COVID-19 put a stop to all in-person events, but we transitioned to online events and have now settled into a mixtured of online and in-person events. We have reached over ~7500 people at schools and public community events. |
| Exploitation Route | Public engagement via the LUniverse planetarium project will continue for the foreseeable future. We are regularly meeting new schools groups and have made new, broader, local community contact to continue and expand this work. |
| Sectors | Education,Environment |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/physics/outreach/planetarium/ |
| Description | The LUniverse planetarium project is bringing the wonder of astrophysics and the night sky to audiences over a cross-section of society. Feedback from our events shows that visitors are enthused, with over 75% wanting to find out more about science afterwards and ~90% rating the events as 4 or 5 stars out of 5. |
| Sector | Education,Environment |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | Partnership Grants 2021 |
| Amount | £2,970 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PG\S2\21\1048 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Wonder Initiative |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The Wonder Initiative has provided a discussion forum and route to feedback and ideas generation that we have contributed to. Through the initiative we have also delivered events in collaboration with another Wonder partner. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Wonder Initiative has provided a discussion forum and route to feedback and ideas generation that we have incorporated into our events. Through the initiative we have also delivered events in collaboration with another Wonder partner. |
| Impact | General enhancement of the LUniverse project via collaboration and ideas-sharing. Somalia Student Project Training outcome. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | FST Annual Conference 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A discussion of galaxy evolution followed by an online planetarium show |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | JWST first public data event including LUniverse |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Event to showcase the first public data from the James Webb Space Telescope, held live at the time of public release and then immediately showcased in the planetarium dome. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/lancaster-university-chosen-to-showcase-first-ever-colour-images-of... |
| Description | LUniverse at Light Up Lancaster 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | ~2000 visitors to the LUniverse part of Light Up Lancaster experienced a tour of the Solar System. We also hosted children for a separate planet building activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.lightuplancaster.co.uk/artworks/exploration-zone/ |
| Description | LUniverse participation in community events 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | LUniverse planetarium shows delivered at public community events (e.g. UlverSTEM x2, Newtown Science Festival) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | LUniverse showcase (FST Winter conference 2019) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Planetarium showcased on-campus at a postgraduate conference (although most planetarium attendees were non-PG university members). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | LUniverse: Archbishop Hutton Primary School March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Bridstow Primary January 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Carnforth High School March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Christchurch School March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Jan & Feb 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Clitheroe St James' Primary School March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Cockerham Primary School November 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 30 students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | LUniverse: Crossley Fields Primary School April 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Cubs, Scouts & Brownie groups 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Children attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Cubs, Scouts, Brownie & other children's groups 2022 & 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | ~110 children reached through cub/scout/brownie groups and other community groups focused on children. Children immersed in planetarium shows and associated activitied. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/physics/outreach/planetarium/ |
| Description | LUniverse: Cumbria Dark Skies Festival 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Three planetarium shows presented as part of Cumbria Dark Skies Festival 2021. A wide range of audience members and positive feedback. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/news/cumbria-embraces-dark-skies |
| Description | LUniverse: Cumbria Dark Skies Festival February 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Attendees experienced an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | LUniverse: Cumbria Dark Skies Festival November 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Attendees experienced an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Grosvenor Park Primary July 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: London Fields Primary School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Our Lady of Lincoln Catholic Primary School May 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Our Lady's Catholic College January & February 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Polish Schools Program 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Queensmead Academy March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Sandringham Primary School January 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Skekton St Lukes Primary January 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: St Aidens School March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: St Bernadette's Primary November 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 62 students attended an online planetarium show with an extensive Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | LUniverse: St Helens School March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: St John the Evangelist Primary School April 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: St Mary's School November 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | LUniverse: The Heys Primary May 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Trinity Academy March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: Trumacar Nursery & Community Primary School April 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended a planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: University of Cambridge Primary November 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | LUniverse: Watling Park School March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: in-person schools program 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | ~2000 students attended in-person planetarium shows and/or planet building activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/physics/outreach/planetarium/ |
| Description | LUniverse: in-person schools program 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | ~1300 school students reached with planetarium shows and associated activities. Feedback consistently positive |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/physics/outreach/planetarium/ |
| Description | LUniverse: in-person schools program Autumn 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended a planetarium show and/or participated in a planet building activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LUniverse: online schools program 2022 & 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | ~900 students attended online planetarium shows with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/physics/outreach/planetarium/ |
| Description | LUniverse: online schools program autumn 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Students attended an online planetarium show with a Q&A afterwards. Feedback was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Online LUniverse press releases |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Two press releases about the online LUniverse program -- one for schools and one about the weekly public shows during COVID lockdown |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/search/?collection=lancaster-meta&form=department&profile=lancaster... |
| Description | Public LUniverse Show series Jan-June 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Free, weekly, live online planetarium shows during the 3rd national (English) COVID lockdown when most pupils were home schooling and continuing monthly thereafter. Each week had a different theme and over 1200 people from >40 countries registered to attend the seven events. Feedback was positive, with attendance from children aged 5 to adults over 80. We also had numerous requests for further events and as a result will be running a monthly series from April 2021. Similarly, following audience requests, we plan to make recordings of the events freely available soon. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm5Zzashz3KGGGzr16rJLcF0lBLW12JFy |
| Description | School visit (Westgate) February 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | LUniverse planetarium and "space" activities presented to 3 classes of year 5 students. Event later featured on BBC Radio Lancashire. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |