Presentation Information
[O18-04]The Planetarium as a Cultural Space for Science Engagement
*Estefania Coluccio Leskow1 (1. Planetarium Galileo Galilei (Argentine))
Keywords:
Cultural engagement,Public participation,Innovation
Aim: To illustrate how a planetarium can transcend traditional astronomy education by becoming a living space for inclusive, creative, and culturally resonant science communication.
Speaker: Dr. Estefanía Coluccio Leskow .
Time Requested: 10-20 minutes
This presentation explores how the Buenos Aires Planetarium has expanded the boundaries of what a planetarium can be — from a space primarily dedicated to astronomy education to a vibrant cultural institution that fosters scientific knowledge, art, creativity, dialogue, and inclusion.
Over the past two years, the Planetarium has developed a diverse set of programs that integrate science with the artistic and cultural life of the city. These initiatives bring together musicians, illustrators, writers, digital artists, and researchers to create experiences where storytelling, aesthetic sensibility, and scientific insight unfold simultaneously. The result is a set of proposals that go beyond communicating astronomy: they invite the audience to feel, imagine, play, and recognize themselves as part of a shared cultural universe.
Live musical performances synchronized with immersive visual narratives, collaborations between tango and mathematics, concerts intertwined with cosmology, digital art performances in the dome, and participatory experiences designed for children and families are just some of the ways in which the Planetarium has opened its doors to new languages and new publics. Additionally, programs involving technological mediation — from Mars rover demonstrations to full-dome artistic residencies — reinforce the Planetarium as a space where scientific imagination and cultural creation meet.
By embracing interdisciplinarity, accessibility, and cultural diversity, the Buenos Aires Planetarium positions itself not only as a place to learn about the Universe, but as a place to experience it — socially, sensorially, and collectively. In doing so, it strengthens connections between scientific and artistic communities, expands its dialogue with the broader public, and redefines the planetarium as a living cultural space dedicated to science, art, curiosity, play, and wonder.
Speaker: Dr. Estefanía Coluccio Leskow .
Time Requested: 10-20 minutes
This presentation explores how the Buenos Aires Planetarium has expanded the boundaries of what a planetarium can be — from a space primarily dedicated to astronomy education to a vibrant cultural institution that fosters scientific knowledge, art, creativity, dialogue, and inclusion.
Over the past two years, the Planetarium has developed a diverse set of programs that integrate science with the artistic and cultural life of the city. These initiatives bring together musicians, illustrators, writers, digital artists, and researchers to create experiences where storytelling, aesthetic sensibility, and scientific insight unfold simultaneously. The result is a set of proposals that go beyond communicating astronomy: they invite the audience to feel, imagine, play, and recognize themselves as part of a shared cultural universe.
Live musical performances synchronized with immersive visual narratives, collaborations between tango and mathematics, concerts intertwined with cosmology, digital art performances in the dome, and participatory experiences designed for children and families are just some of the ways in which the Planetarium has opened its doors to new languages and new publics. Additionally, programs involving technological mediation — from Mars rover demonstrations to full-dome artistic residencies — reinforce the Planetarium as a space where scientific imagination and cultural creation meet.
By embracing interdisciplinarity, accessibility, and cultural diversity, the Buenos Aires Planetarium positions itself not only as a place to learn about the Universe, but as a place to experience it — socially, sensorially, and collectively. In doing so, it strengthens connections between scientific and artistic communities, expands its dialogue with the broader public, and redefines the planetarium as a living cultural space dedicated to science, art, curiosity, play, and wonder.