UVI to Introduce Starlab Planetarium to the V.I.

The University of the Virgin Islands is preparing to bring the universe to the Virgin Islands with public introductions of Starlab, a mobile planetarium recently acquired by UVI for use in the territory.

Free, public demonstrations on UVI's St. Croix and St. Thomas campuses are scheduled for Nov. 13 and Nov. 19, respectively. In addition to these two community days, students at all the territory's schools have received special invitations to their own private tours of Starlab, according to Dr. Robert Giacosie, outreach coordinator for UVI's Division of Science and Mathematics.

"Our goal is to get young people excited about what we are doing in science and mathematics," Giacosie said. "Starlabs are used worldwide to allow students and educators to explore the origins of the universe, the nature of our galaxy and the composition of the earth and our solar system. And now UVI is bringing that opportunity to the territory."

School groups on St. Croix will have exclusive use of Starlab on Nov. 14 and 15. Session for St. Thomas students are planned for Nov. 17 and 18 and on the morning of Nov. 19. Starlab will be erected in UVI's Cafetorium on the St. Croix campus and in UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts on St. Thomas.

"We want Virgin Islanders to know that anyone can become a rocket scientist, an astronaut or serve in supporting technical roles," Giacosie added.

"This is an exciting project," said UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster. "It fits in well with our other community involvement programs like UVI's Saturday Science Awareness Academies, the Summer Science Academies and the NASA Educational Resource Center activities."

UVI's St. Croix campus is expecting to host between 350 and 375 students on each of the two days assigned for student viewing. "We're very excited about that," said UVI's Jacqueline Kowalski, who is coordinating the effort on St. Croix. "We're also hoping that some students will come with their parents on the community day."

On St. Thomas, approximately 700 to 800 local students are expected to participate, according to Giacosie.

Starlab is an inflatable planetarium that can accommodate 60 adults or about 70 children at a time, Giacosie said. A specialized projector casts awe inspiring images of the stars and galaxies on the Starlab's 13.5 foot high domed ceiling. It can also be used for exploring a variety of earth science, social studies and mythology. The mobile planetarium was purchased with funds provided by a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Along with NASA, the National Science Foundation also provides on-going support for the Starlab program in the Virgin Islands.

Along with the new Starlab, UVI will also introduce Susan Button, president of the International Planetarium Society (IPS), to the Virgin Islands community. Button conducts Starlab presentations and workshops around the world. She will serve as a tour guide for the community day demonstrations on St. Croix and St. Thomas. Founded in 1970, the IPS has nearly 700 members in 35 countries. They represent schools, colleges and universities, museums and public facilities that operate both fixed and portable planetariums.

Both Starlab community days - on Nov. 13 and 19 - will begin with formal introductions by Dr. Adam Parr, chair of UVI's Division of Science and Mathematics. UVI Provost Dr. Al Hassan Musah will also participate. Both sessions will begin at 1 p.m. Public tours will follow, beginning at 2 p.m. and continuing until 5 p.m.

Representatives from NASA and the V.I. government are scheduled to be on hand for both introductory sessions. On St. Thomas, Senator Shawn-Michael Malone and NASA's Deputy Chief Education Officer Dr. Bernice Alston are on the program. St. Croix NASA and V.I. government participants are yet to be confirmed.

Giacosie said UVI hopes to make public Starlab expositions an annual event. For more information, contact Giacosie at 693-1249 on St. Thomas or Kowalski at 692-4076 on St. Croix.