Workshop 1c – STEM Camps Ideas for Early Elementary Ages
Min: 1 Max: None – No Fee
Christi Whitworth – Zaniac

Come try out some collaborative and creative STEM education options for your summer and school year camps. Presented by a leading STEM education provider from Asheville, NC, Zaniac is sharing some of their most popular topics for children ages 5-10. While known for their Minecraft camps, this workshop will share 3D design and electronics in problem-based learning scenarios.

Workshop 1d – Planning and Funding a Radio Astronomy Outreach Program
Min: 1 Max: None – No Fee
Robert ‘Bob’ Ehresman & Alexandra Hall – Von Braun Astronomical Society (SEPA Member) and Huntsville Amateur Radio Club

The Von Braun Astronomical Society (VBAS) successfully partnered with the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club (HARC) to obtain funds to implement an amateur radio astronomy outreach program at the VBAS Planetarium and Observatory site. Public response to radio astronomy as a daytime/cloudy night activity has been enthusiastic. Depending on your system, the information can also be displayed in real time in your theater. In this workshop, the two lead collaborators will describe their program and its future growth, help participants identify possible collaborators in their geographic area, and review the process (with examples, hints and tips) to apply for funds from ARDC to implement your own program. Other funding sources will also be discussed. Workshop participants will receive sufficient information, budgets and narrative to attempt their own grant applications. If desired, participants will be included in an e-mail group for sharing of drafts, troubleshooting, Q&A, etc. The Presenters hope to encourage and provide practical help to enable multiple institutions to pursue similar programs and create an informal network. N/B the VBAS/HARC team will be sponsoring at the lowest level to have a booth for the two days prior to the workshop, where live, real time demonstrations of the radio astronomy activities will be ongoing. We would ask that any potential workshop attendees find time during the vendor sessions to check out demonstrations.

Workshop 1e – Setting Up a VR Planetarium – Cancelled
Min: 1 Max: None – No Fee
Johnathan Winckowski – Bessser Museum

The world of VR planetariums is now a possibility, but the idea of setting up and running a planetarium show in VR might seem like a daunting task. I want to demystify the concept and help expand the medium. To start that, I plan to walk people through some of the basics on how to get started with this interactive medium. Through the course of the workshop, I will walk people through the basics of how to set up a VR headset on their computer as well as the specific software I am using to create a planetarium experience in VR.

Workshop 1f – What’s the Story? (*Evening* Glory!)
Min: 1 Max: 12 – Fee: $12
Gary M. Lazich – Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS)

The ongoing debates over live shows vs. recorded ones and multimedia projection vs. full-dome video often overlook the most crucial elements of a planetarium show – the story and the storyteller. This workshop should afford participants the opportunity to practice their listening and telling skills, tell stories about themselves as planetarians, discover the qualities that make for effective stories and tellings, and create original stories about current topics in astronomy and space exploration. Participants will receive information about *The Art of Storytelling,* one of The Great Courses, as well as a list of references for continuing education.

Panel Discussion 1g – Lasers In Planetariums: A Panel Discussion
Min: 5 Max: 30 – No Fee
Jack Dunn, Ken Moore & Callie Boyle – Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC Planetarium and Ingram Planetarium

Three planetarians with substantial experience lend their expertise to topics relating to presenting laser light shows in your dome. In order to get the favorable audiences and keep them coming back, it takes more than just announcing you will bring in equipment. We will discuss everything from promotion and operations and hopefully answer your questions on how to make them a success.

Panel Discussion 1h – Education Committee Showcasing Research and Effective Teaching in the Planetarium
Min: 5 Max: None – No Fee
IPS Education Committee – Ken Brandt, Beau Hartweg, Sara Schultz et al.

This panel is concerning education research being done regarding effective teaching under the dome.

Workshop 2a – Make an Earth-Moon Scale Model Kit!
Min: 8 Max: 24 – Fee: $20
Adam Thanz, Allen Davis & Cassy Rose – Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium

Our exhibits staff at Bays Mountain work very closely with the planetarium staff on all sorts of projects. They are a part of the planetarium world and we wanted to highlight their talent by allowing them to share some of their skills with our delegates. One way to do this was for them to be integral in an astronomy make-n-take workshop. We have designed an Earth-Moon model kit that has the two bodies and their separation to scale. Its purpose is to break common misconceptions about Moon phases, show how far apart the two are from each other, accurately illustrate eclipses, illustrate apogee, mean and perigee positions, and more. The workshop isn’t just about using the kit, but to also learn how to cast resin models and make the kit! The final product will be a resin-cast model of the Earth and Moon on posts/handles. Those will fit into a hardwood base that allows for correct placement. The separation of the Earth and Moon, in this scale, is 1 meter. There will be a modest fee for the workshop, but each attendee will be able to take the model kit home to their theater/classroom. Extra kits will be made ahead of time for those that can’t attend or who want teacher kits of eight. Workshop spaces and kits will be limited. There will be a choice of a travel form of the wooden base in case you are flying. The wood base is 4’ long. The travel version is the 4’ base cut in 2 2’ sections that join together. All income from this workshop will go towards the general conference expenses.

Workshop 2b – 3D Printing for the Planetarium
Min: 12 Max: 30 – Fee: $5
Dale Ruppert – Science Central

Learn the ins and outs of 3D printers and how they can be used to enrich your guest’s experience. Explore how different 3D printers work and how they can be used to make anything from parts for your planetarium to scales models and even tactile landscapes. Take a guided tour through 3D printing software and learn how you can use it to make your own 3D printable design. Attendees of this workshop get to take home a customized 3D print!Laptops will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their own.

Workshop 2d – How to Train Your Dragon (Presenter)
Min: 2 Max: None – No Fee
Brittany Kundert – INTUITIVE Planetarium – US Space and Rocket Center

Learn how to train your presenters to deliver live, interactive planetarium presentations! This workshop delves into the live/interactive show style, personalized presentations, ways to engage your audience and how to set up an effective training program for planetarium presenters!

Workshop 2e – Targeting Astronomy Misconceptions
Min: 12 Max: 60 – No Fee
Karrie Berglund – Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc.

In this highly interactive workshop, we will explore astronomy misconceptions using questions such as: What misconceptions do our audiences bring into the dome with them? How can we use the planetarium to correct these audience ideas? Time permitting, we will look at current research that informs how to adjust audience perceptions.

Panel Discussion 2g – Fiske Full Dome Films Supported by NASA and NSF
Min: 1 Max: None – No Fee
John Keller, Thor Metzinger & Nick Conant – Fiske Planetarium, University of Colorado Boulder

Fiske Planetarium is pleased to announce the release of three new feature-length full-dome films that are available for free download to planetaria across the globe: Cosmic Mashups/Enredo Cósmico on galaxy mergers and supermassive blackholes, Worlds of Curiosity about the exploration of exoplanets, and 5000 Eyes featuring the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument. Production of these films have been supported by the National Science Foundation. Through support from NASA, Fiske is also a) producing short-form videos in both full-dome and flat screen format on eclipses and occultations titled Science through Shadows and b) partnering with the NASA PUNCH mission to produce a forthcoming feature film on the universality of Sun watching throughout time and culture. During this panel discussion, we will discuss both the value of and issues with free full-dome content within the planetarium world.

Workshop 3a – Make an Earth-Moon Scale Model Kit!
Min: 8 Max: 24 – Fee: $20
Adam Thanz, Allen Davis & Cassy Rose – Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium

Our exhibits staff at Bays Mountain work very closely with the planetarium staff on all sorts of projects. They are a part of the planetarium world and we wanted to highlight their talent by allowing them to share some of their skills with our delegates. One way to do this was for them to be integral in an astronomy make-n-take workshop. We have designed an Earth-Moon model kit that has the two bodies and their separation to scale. Its purpose is to break common misconceptions about Moon phases, show how far apart the two are from each other, accurately illustrate eclipses, illustrate apogee, mean and perigee positions, and more. The workshop isn’t just about using the kit, but to also learn how to cast resin models and make the kit! The final product will be a resin-cast model of the Earth and Moon on posts/handles. Those will fit into a hardwood base that allows for correct placement. The separation of the Earth and Moon, in this scale, is 1 meter. There will be a modest fee for the workshop, but each attendee will be able to take the model kit home to their theater/classroom. Extra kits will be made ahead of time for those that can’t attend or who want teacher kits of eight. Workshop spaces and kits will be limited. There will be a choice of a travel form of the wooden base in case you are flying. The wood base is 4’ long. The travel version is the 4’ base cut in 2 2’ sections that join together. All income from this workshop will go towards the general conference expenses.

Workshop 3c – Girl Scouts at Your Planetarium: A New Ancient & Modern Sun-Watching Patch
Min: 15 Max: 45 – No Fee
Jason Trump, Cherilynn Morrow & John Keller – Clark Planetarium | Consultant for Southwest Research Institute | Fiske Planetarium

The NASA PUNCH Outreach team is proud to present a new Ancient & Modern Sun-Watching Girl Scout patch of field-tested activities that support multi-sensory, multicultural and social-emotional learning. In this experiential workshop, we invite you to participate in a sampling of activities from our patch followed by a discussion about how to form a partnership with your local and regional Girl Scout organizations. Join us whether you are new or experienced when it comes to partnering with Girl Scouts, as this session will include collaboratively sharing insights and will equip you with resources and training to host a patch-earning event at your planetarium in time for upcoming eclipse events as well as for any Sun-related event beyond the eclipses.The NASA PUNCH mission is designed to revolutionize human capacity for space-weather monitoring in the inner heliosphere, starting at the Sun’s corona and extending out to Earth orbit. The PUNCH Outreach team is comprised of planetarium and science education professionals from the US Southwest that have been working in collaboration with Girl Scout leaders. We collaborate with Native American, Hispanic, Blind and Low-Vision (BLV) communities as well as Girl Scouts.

Workshop 3d – Go Viral with WorldWide Telescope! – CANCELLED
Min: 1 Max: None – No Fee
David Weigel & Emma Cleveland INTUITIVE Planetarium – US Space and Rocket Center

Learn how to best utilize WorldWide Telescope (WWT) for your planetarium to engage audiences both inside and outside of the dome! This workshop will provide an overview of the Windows client, WWT web capabilities, and a brief look at custom interactive WWT web interfaces.

Workshop 3e – The Theremin, the Planetarium and You (The Best Combination Since Peanut Butter and Chocolate!)
Min: 2 Max: 20 – No Fee
Jon U. Bell – Hallstrom Planetarium, Indian River State College

In this workshop, the presenter will introduce participants to the electronic musical instrument known as a theremin, provide samples of theremin recordings to listen to, give instructions on how to play it and allow some time for everyone to play it, giving them some “hands-on,” or perhaps that should be, “hands-off” experience. Two theremins will be set up for the workshop: a Burns extended B3 model and a Moog Etherwave instrument.

Workshop 3f – Open a Channel: Strengthening Vocal Stamina for Live Planetarium Presenters
Min: 6 Max: 27 – No Fee
Katherine Hunt – Digitalis Education Solutions and SEPA Council, Callie Boyle – Ingram Planetarium & Mark Webb – Goto, Inc. 

The day is long, especially for public planetariums, where presenters often execute programs hourly for an entire workday. Can it be that one presenter can do fully live programs under these conditions? The answer is an absolute yes! However, there are ways to ensure that it is successful and more importantly comfortable for everyone involved. Come learn how actors, public speakers, newscasters and other communication fields build vocal stamina and apply it to your work communicating under a dome.

Panel Discussion 3g – Educational Needs x Next Generation Content
Min: 4 Max: None – No Fee
Moderator: Ryan Moore. Panelists: Scott Mitchell, Anna Green, Dan Tell, Charissa Sedor, Heidi Westrick & Sarah Smail – Dome Fest West | Orange Coast College | Adler Planetarium

This discussion panel will be a powerful gathering of fulldome planetarium directors from around the United States and will offer a unique opportunity to share knowledge and insights on fulldome content and its uses in educational programming. With representation from all over the country, each director will bring a diverse array of experiences and expertise to the table giving valuable insight into how fulldome technology can be used most effectively in an educational context. Discussion topics during the panel would include common pitfalls encountered when creating fulldome content for education, best practices for working with curricula within fulldome environments and helpful techniques for developing successful fulldome programs. Panel members will collaborate to seek out innovative ways to increase fulldome utilization in educational contexts, look at the issues involved with being creative when it comes to fulldomes and explore opportunities for the enhancement of existing fulldome educational materials. In all, this forum has immense potential to have a lasting impact on fulldome education programs across the nation.

Panel Discussion 3h – IPS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) 2023 Projects
Min: 1 Max: None – No Fee
Eric Edelman, Shannon Schmoll & Melanie Isenbarger – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Michigan State University | Ball State University

Representatives leading various Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) projects within the planetarium community will introduce and open the floor for a panel discussion on these efforts. This will include presentations on the 2021 IPS Culture and Climate Survey, Ball State University’s ArcGIS StoryMap on demographic data and the 2023 IPS Survey of Industry Pay and Financial Equity for International Planetarium Personnel.