Parallel Session 7: Finding the next Science Superstar
Wednesday 10 April 10:15 - 12:00
Since 2018 there is the existence of a mobile pop-up-planetarium at the Department of Astrophysics, University of Vienna. It is used to support the scientific teaching in schools, especially in the field of astronomy. The software, projector and dome used together have display options which cannot be reached with simple computer displays and are therefore an optimal opinion for younger people to improve spatial thinking. The planetarium shows are not only held by professional astronomers, but also students which are prepared for astronomical public outreach techniques for children in a special university lecture are part of the operator team. The shows itself are optimized for children aged between 6 - 14 years. Since March 2018 when the project started with school visits there were: 22 schools visited on 32 days (some schools are visited more than one day), 142 shows held and more than 3100 children visited the planetarium.
But not only school visits, also at big public outreach events in Vienna and other locations the planetarium became part and there more than 1700 visitors, children and adults, were able to visit a show additionally. The Department of Astrophysics now has a team of five operators and the lectures preparing more students are still going on. More information can be found on
