PhD on Astronomy Education in a Planetarium

Planetariums are science centers in which the public is exposed to the fascinating world of the (night) sky. The projections on the planetarium dome allow for an immersive experience that fosters the natural interest in astronomy. Most planetariums provide also educational services and many schools organise a planetarium visit in the context of the science curriculum. The impact of these planetarium visits on learning, however, is vastly unexplored. In this project, we will focus on the apparent motion of the Sun and stars and their daily and yearly changes. Our ongoing research on students’ understanding of these apparent motions shows remarkable results: not only secondary school but also university students have difficulties explaining the apparent motions and do not use a correct model in their explanation. The goal of this project is to better understand student difficulties and the role planetarium visualisations can play to scaffold student understanding. Based on these insights, we will design and evaluate optimised learning materials to tackle the difficulties. We will do this in close collaboration with the Brussels Planetarium. By carrying out the proposed project, together with our multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to the international growing field of Astronomy Education Research.