Bochum, March 21, 2022
There is a reason why the Carl Zeiss Foundation is supporting “100 Years of the Planetarium” with 540,000 euros: because the foundation is closely linked to the history of the planetarium through its foundation company ZEISS. On October 21, 1923, a team from the Carl Zeiss company led by Walther Bauersfeld presented the first planetarium based on optical-mechanical light projection in Munich. It was invented and manufactured at ZEISS in Jena. In May 1925, the first public projection planetarium opened in the Deutsches Museum in Munich. This period forms the basis for the “Centennial of Planetarium” anniversary, which will take place from October 2023 to May 2025. The IPS and the GDP would like to celebrate the great invention “Planetarium” together with many national and international planetariums. “We are pleased to be a part of the 100th anniversary,” says Dr. Felix Streiter, executive director of the Carl Zeiss Foundation. “Not only because the planetarium makes an important contribution to knowledge transfer and science communication and gets people excited about science and technology, but also because it was our foundation company ZEISS that laid a central foundation stone for this. We are proud of that.” With impressive 360° video projections, the Planetarium Experience today captivates young and old all over the world.
Planetariums promote education
There are now more than 4,000 planetariums worldwide. They are extracurricular places of learning that literally broaden horizons: Thanks to innovative planetarium technology, visitors travel deep into space and learn about the solar system and the history of the Earth. Planetariums inspire, impart knowledge about stars and planets, inspire enthusiasm for science and technology, and unite science, art and culture in a unique way. Planetariums enable us humans to better understand the Earth and awaken an awareness for environmentally friendly action – not only on a rational, but also on an emotional level. At planetarium shows, live concerts and other cultural events, children and adults experience the “fascination of the universe” up close. With this diversity, planetariums make an enormous contribution to scientific, cultural and social education.
Anniversary with many activities
From 2023 to 2025, the organizers of “100 Years of the Planetarium” will be drawing attention to international planetariums with numerous activities. The “Centennial of Planetarium” team is made up of partly volunteer committees and working groups from the IPS and GDP; the project is supported by a PR and marketing agency. Planned so far are an extraordinary planetarium show that will be shown in all participating planetariums, a traveling exhibition, a book project, an opening event in the fall of 2023 and many other action days. In addition, the planetarium is applying to become a UNESCO cultural heritage site and will receive a special stamp. Prominent patrons will accompany the anniversary. Thanks to the commitment of the Carl Zeiss Foundation and its generous financial support, all these activities are possible.
Sponsors welcome
To make the anniversary a great success worldwide, the organizers are looking for additional sponsors. As partners of “Centennial of the Planetarium,” companies will benefit from high visibility in the activities as well as wide-ranging press and public relations work during the anniversary period. Sponsors of the anniversary actively support the educational work of the planetariums and promote science and culture.
Interested parties are welcome to contact us by e-mail: info@planetarium100.org.
About the GDP
The Gesellschaft Deutschsprachiger Planetarien e.V. (GDP) is an association of planetariums, their employees, and people interested in planetariums, mainly from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but also from other countries, with the goal of promoting cooperation among planetariums in the German-speaking world. The society was founded in May 2011 and is recognized as a non-profit organization.
About the IPS
The International Planetarium Society Inc. (IPS) is a worldwide association of planetarium professionals with more than 600 members from 42 countries around the world. It represents schools, colleges and universities, museums, and public institutions of all sizes. The primary goal of the IPS is to promote the exchange of ideas among its members through conferences, publications and networking.
About the Carl Zeiss Foundation
The Carl Zeiss Foundation has set itself the goal of creating scope for scientific breakthroughs. As a partner of excellent science, it supports both basic research and application-oriented research and teaching in the MINT disciplines (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology). Founded in 1889 by the physicist and mathematician Ernst Abbe, the Carl Zeiss Foundation is one of the oldest and largest private science-funding foundations in Germany. It is the sole owner of Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG. Its projects are financed from the dividend distributions of the two foundation companies.