Abstract

Contributed Talk - Splinter Outreach

Wednesday, 17 September 2025, 15:15

Our Exotic Universe – A Planetarium Show as an Outreach Activity of a Collaborative Research Centre

Susanne Hüttemeister
Zeiss Planetarium Bochum & Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum

The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) “Cosmic Interacting Matters – From Source to Signal” began its work in 2022. It brings together over 100 researchers from the universities of Bochum, Dortmund, Duisburg-Essen, and Wuppertal. At the heart of its research lies the interplay of matter and energy, with a particular focus on plasma physics and particle physics. A central goal is to understand energy transfer processes between magnetic fields, cosmic rays, baryonic matter, and dark matter. Results from major projects such as IceCube and the CTIO are incorporated alongside theoretical studies. This is clearly a complex subject that poses challenges for public communication. The CRC has therefore – to our knowledge as the first CRC – decided to produce a planetarium show as a core outreach initiative, titled “Our Exotic Universe”. The premiere will take place in early October. This talk presents the nearly completed production and reflects on the challenges of conveying elements of the CRC's actual research without overwhelming the audience. What foundational knowledge must be explained? Which cosmic phenomena playing a role in the CRC most successfully spark public fascination? How much simplification is possible – and how much is necessary? In discussing these questions, the presentation also touches on fundamental questions of science communication.