Adler Planetarium TOUCH THE UNIVERSE 1. OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION Touch the Universe utilized 3D printed astrophysical objects in combination with visualizations to provide Adler Planetarium guests with a new way of exploring space concepts. It also benefits our guests with visual impairment and those that are primarily tactile learners, providing a pathway for deeper understanding of astrophysical concepts that are often only presented visually within the planetarium experience. This programming is delivered within Adler Planetarium’s Space Visualization Lab (SVL), a unique space where local astronomers and astrophysicists present their latest discoveries with breathtaking images, innovative data visualizations, and 3D video displays. Guests will be invited to touch a vast array of 3D printed objects. While these objects are being investigated by the audience, SVL presenters will deliver a narrative about each item, augmented by associated telescope images, simulation visualizations, and 3D movies. 2. UNIVERSE OF LEARNING RESOURCES i. To implement Touch the Universe, we used two specific Universe of Learning resources. In particular, we incorporated some images from AstroPix and 3D printer compatible models from the ‘3D Printing the X-Ray Universe’ tactile resource. These Universe of Learning resources inspired us to assemble a set of 3D printed objects and corresponding visualizations to tell other universe stories. ii. Whenever possible, we included visualizations and imagery from NASA features associated with the Hubble Space Telescope, OSIRIS-REx, the Parker Solar Probe, NuSTAR, New Horizons, and Chandra. We also incorporated 3D printed objects found on NASA’s ‘3D Resources’ website of Eta Carinae’s stellar winds and the Homunculus Nebula. 3. PROGRAM DETAILS A. Goals i. To encourage curiosity and exploration through multiple senses. ii. Explore new avenues to present astrophysical data via 3D printed objects. iii. Provide more opportunity for engagement among our guests that may be tactile learners or have visual impairment. B. Target Audience i. Our target audience includes visitors to Adler Planetarium of all demographics. In particular, we piloted this program within our uniQue Space Visualization Lab. As such, we interact with visitors who naturally visit this space. C. Suggested Timeline We suggest a total of ten weeks (2.5 months) of preparation before delivering a version of ‘Touch the Universe’. This timeframe may be shortened if there is already access to a 3D printer and high-resolution displays, sufficient practice with successfully creating 3D prints, and a ready pool of content presenters. Ten weeks out: • Identify your audience and a space to hold your program. Do you already have a dedicated space, will you need to create one, or will you need to go out into the community? Will program participants naturally come to you, will you need to advertise, or will you take your program to an audience? Ten-Eight weeks out: • Source and/or purchase high-resolution visual displays/projectors, computers to run the display, a 3D printer, and additional spools of 3D printer material if needed. One display is sufficient to deliver the programming. • Recruit content presenters and facilitators if needed. An expertise or background in astronomy is helpful, but not required. Seven weeks out: • Start experimenting with creating the 3D prints. Some may reQuire alterations to your printer settings. A number of the prints will also reQuire some clean-up to remove supports necessary in the printing process. See the GitHub repository (https://github.com/mariaweber/Adler_TouchTheUniverse) for the 3D printer files, printing tips, and some before and after photos. Six weeks out: • Start advertising to your chosen audience if you haven’t already started. Four weeks out: • Begin downloading the visualizations and imagery from the GitHub repository (https://github.com/mariaweber/Adler_TouchTheUniverse). Ensure everything works properly on your display devices. If using the WorldWide Telescope to augment your program, familiarize yourself with its features. • Once content presenters are identified, hold a workshop to train them in the art of science communication. Provide presenters with the information they 2 will be responsible for. Each of the 3D prints and their associated visualizations are briefly discussed in the ‘README’ files in the GitHub repository. Additional links are also provided so presenters can learn more of the backstory behind each print and visualization. One week out: • One last advertisement push, especially if this is a stand-alone or part of a one-off event. • Put on the finishing touches and get ready to have fun! 4. PROGRAM MODEL At the Adler Planetarium, we deliver aspects of Touch the Universe every day within our dedicated Space Visualization Lab. As our astrophysicist presenters engage in an informal conversation with museum visitors, 3D printed objects are passed around the room while corresponding visualizations are shown on our interactive tile wall, one 2D TV display, and two 3D displays. Often guests migrate toward the front of the room, pick up an intriguing 3D printed object, and strike up a conversation with our astronomer volunteers or facilitators. The 3D printed objects are literal touchstones which get audience members physically involved and curious about a space story in ways beyond what imagery alone can convey. There are many ways in which a similar Touch the Universe program could be delivered. These could take place within dedicated exhibit spaces as we do at the Adler Planetarium, either routinely or as stand-alone events. They could be cart pop-up activities, or more formal lecture-style presentations. One could also choose this program to be mobile, taking it out into schools and community spaces. Here we provide more details about our specific program, some ideas to make Touch the Universe translatable to other institutions, and provide basic background content, visualizations, and 3D printer files that can be molded to fit your needs. • Staffing • Our Touch the Universe program is delivered within Adler Planetarium’s Space Visualization Lab (SVL). During a typical 1-2 hour SVL session where portions of Touch the Universe are presented, there is usually one facilitator and one presenter present. The facilitator invites visitors into the space, counts the number of attendees, and assists the presenter if necessary. The presenter is either an Adler Planetarium staff scientist or scientist from a nearby institution with specific astrophysics content knowledge and science communication training. During special evening ticketed events where the SVL is open for 3-4 hours, we still usually implement one facilitator and one speaker at a time. However, there are 2-4 speakers that rotate throughout the event. Sometimes the facilitator is also rotated. 3 • Recruitment • The Touch the Universe audience is comprised of Adler Planetarium visitors. They may experience aspects of Touch the Universe by visiting the SVL during its open hours. We recruit external SVL presenters through the University of Chicago and Northwestern University astronomy and astrophysics programs. • Activity outline Here we describe one example of how a two-hour program incorporating aspects of Touch the Universe might be delivered. This event could be delivered with only one presenter and one facilitator. Every Saturday and Sunday, the Adler Planetarium’s Space Visualization Lab (SVL) is open to visitors for two consecutive hours. Now portions of Touch the Universe are incorporated into nearly every SVL open session. • 15 minutes before the program begins, the facilitator prepares the room and turns on the eQuipment. The presenter also arrives and familiarizes themselves with the location of the visualizations and imagery they wish to show. If a 3D printer is able to be set up in the space, we recommend starting a print. Guests are not only interested in touching a part of the universe, they are also intrigued by the technology and the 3D printing process itself. • Once the program commences, the facilitator stands near the exhibit entrance, invites guests inside, and counts the attendees. • The flow of the program might be entirely presenter dominated, driven by questions from the audience, or some combination of both. Generally, the presenter will begin by introducing themselves and launching right into a topic with an associated 3D printed object. Often the first topic will revolve around the presenter’s primary research or favorite astronomy realm. For example, one of our freQuent presenters is a solar physicist. She will begin by talking about the Sun’s magnetic activity, showing visualization of the Sun’s corona, then a 3D printed representations of the Sun’s magnetic field and the Parker Solar Probe telescope. Next she’ll talk about supernova remnants, showing both visualizations and 3D printed versions of Cassiopeia A and supernova 1987A. After that comes a discussion on black hole mergers and their ensuing gravitational waves, followed by a survey of asteroids you can literally hold in the palm of your hand. During this time, the associated 3D printed objects will be passed around the crowd, visualizations will be shown, and the presenter will frequently stop to ask the audience if they have any questions or want to know more. Sometimes the discussion veers off into a conversation on habitability and planets around other stars, or even toward particle astrophysics and galaxy mergers. Owing to the open lab nature of Adler’s SVL, visitors come and go as they please. Most stay for around 5 minutes. Once the presenter has exhausted her favorite topics, she’ll circle back and start the presentation again. 4 The above such example is only one among the approximately 70 SVL presenters. Our visualization library is Quite extensive, and we will continue to add more 3D prints to illustrate an increasing breadth of topics. We do encourage institutions to consider printing out a few 3D objects for use in pop- up cart activities staffed by facilitators. A simple printout of an image could accompany the 3D print. • At the end of the two-hour session, the facilitator and presenter inform everyone that it is time to go.