GDP wants to make the educational work of planetariums more visible: Now knowledge transfer in planetariums has been included in the state inventory of intangible cultural heritage in North Rhine-Westphalia and is a candidate for the nationwide UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
In a multi-stage procedure, the German UNESCO Commission and other governmental bodies decide on the candidates. The Society of German-Speaking Planetariums (Gesellschaft Deutschsprachiger Planetarien e.V., GDP) has applied for the activities of planetariums to be listed as intangible cultural heritage – with success: the “communication of the scientific, in particular astronomical, view of the world in planetariums” has now been included in the state list of North Rhine-Westphalia. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has proposed the work of the planetariums as a “good practice example” for inclusion in the nationwide list of intangible cultural heritage.
The reason given by the independent state jury: Planetariums are of the utmost importance in conveying knowledge about the universe and nature to children and young people. At the same time, they encourage reflection on issues of sustainability and the finite nature of resources. “The entry at the state level and the nomination for the nationwide Intangible Cultural Heritage is a great tribute to the work of all scientists and volunteers in the local planetariums,” says Dr. Björn Voss, president of the GDP. “The first step towards becoming a ‘World Heritage Planetarium’ has been taken!”
A decision on inclusion in the national list will be made in spring 2023 at the latest.