Presentation Information
[PD7-01]Cosmogenesis: When Science Becomes a Story of Kinship
(A Kintsugi Story - Where Science Becomes Liquid Gold)
*Rebecca-Sophia Strong1, Shawn Laatch3, John Keller 2 (1. Sophia Strong Studios and Fiske Planetarium (USA), 2. University of Colorado Boulder's Fiske Planetarium (USA), 3. University of Maine Orono's Versant Power Astronomy Center (USA))
Keywords:
Live-Performance in the Dome,Social Impact Storytelling,Public Engagement
Aim / Objectives This session introduces Cosmogenesis:The Story of Us is a 142-minute immersive, live fulldome film and stage-play created for planetaria. We will explore how this social-impact work shapes how audiences understand their place in the Universe. The planetarium, a site of scientific learning, transforms into a place of reflection and connection-where science becomes a language of kinship, cultural engagement and renewal. At its core, Cosmogenesis tells the 13.8-billion-year story of the Universe while inviting reflection on climate, belonging, ecology, and the tension between finite and infinite ways of living. The work weaves cosmology, dance and philosophy-asking a central question: What is the story that unifies all of life?
Panelists Rebecca-Sophia Strong - Playwright, Filmmaker, Creative Director & Executive Producer
Shawn Laatch - Planetarium Director
John Keller - Planetarium Director
Chair / Moderator: Ryan Wyatt (invited)
Session Length: 75 minutes
Participants: 60+
Session Description This session centers Cosmogenesis: The Story of Us as a work of art and inquiry that activates learning through emotion, movement, music, and immersive imagery - not information alone. Dance is presented as a universal language, one that bridges culture and cognition and invites shared meaning across differences. Designed as a social-impact performance, Cosmogenesis models inclusive narration and representation, encouraging wider participation in science and the arts and expanding who feels welcome inside these spaces. The work holds space for ecological grief and wonder alike, creating an environment where audiences can process planetary and personal stories together. Premiered on November 7, 2025, Cosmogenesis is now supported by documented audience response. The panel will share images, short clips, and stories from the world premiere, offering insight into the cultural and emotional impact generated within the host community. Cosmogenesis is presented as an evolving work of art and inquiry - one that invites planetariums into deeper emotional resonance, cultural relevance, and generational reach. Rather than focusing on “how-to,” this session opens a window into what is being created - how the story was enhanced through screen, stage, and sound, and became a multi-sensory experience of collective meaning-making, dialogue, and reflection - cultivating a more vibrant culture rooted in kinship with Earth, Cosmos, and one another. One Earth, One Sky.
Panelists Rebecca-Sophia Strong - Playwright, Filmmaker, Creative Director & Executive Producer
Shawn Laatch - Planetarium Director
John Keller - Planetarium Director
Chair / Moderator: Ryan Wyatt (invited)
Session Length: 75 minutes
Participants: 60+
Session Description This session centers Cosmogenesis: The Story of Us as a work of art and inquiry that activates learning through emotion, movement, music, and immersive imagery - not information alone. Dance is presented as a universal language, one that bridges culture and cognition and invites shared meaning across differences. Designed as a social-impact performance, Cosmogenesis models inclusive narration and representation, encouraging wider participation in science and the arts and expanding who feels welcome inside these spaces. The work holds space for ecological grief and wonder alike, creating an environment where audiences can process planetary and personal stories together. Premiered on November 7, 2025, Cosmogenesis is now supported by documented audience response. The panel will share images, short clips, and stories from the world premiere, offering insight into the cultural and emotional impact generated within the host community. Cosmogenesis is presented as an evolving work of art and inquiry - one that invites planetariums into deeper emotional resonance, cultural relevance, and generational reach. Rather than focusing on “how-to,” this session opens a window into what is being created - how the story was enhanced through screen, stage, and sound, and became a multi-sensory experience of collective meaning-making, dialogue, and reflection - cultivating a more vibrant culture rooted in kinship with Earth, Cosmos, and one another. One Earth, One Sky.