We Need More Space: The importance of planetariums for science education and outreach

Each year the Wayne State University Planetarium engages thousands of members of the public and the university both on and off campus. As university budgets tighten and there are more voices challenging the value of higher education and scientific expertise, planetariums and science centers are ever more important, but also at greater risk. This presentation will discuss the kinds of programming and collaboration we have done through the WSU Planetarium to support science education in Detroit. It will also consider the impact that recent planetarium closures elsewhere in the country will have on their local communities. I will then suggest ways you can support and collaborate with planetariums in your own towns, and advocate for science centers as a professional and as a private citizen.