The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre Operations and Business Plan. Lars Lindberg Christensen & Tania Johnston

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1 The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre Operations and Business Plan Lars Lindberg Christensen & Tania Johnston

2 Why is astronomy the coolest science there is? One of the greatest adventures in the history of mankind Astronomy is visual! Space is an all-action, violent arena with exotic phenomena that are counter-intuitive, spectacular, mystifying, intriguing, dazzling, fascinating A large element of discovery The field is extremely fast moving, delivering new results on a daily basis Touches the largest philosophical questions of the human race: Where do we come from? Where will we end? How did life arise? Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? Astronomy can lead the way for other natural sciences and be a frontrunner in science communication

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4 The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre is a cuttingedge astronomy education and outreach centre located at the southern edge of the Research Campus Garching

5 The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre charges no entrance and provides free access to all activities

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7 ESO Supernova Other Partners Constellation Partner Planet Partner Education Partner Technology Partner Media Partner

8 ESO Supernova Vision

9 ESO Supernova Mission

10 ESO Supernova Values

11 ESO Supernova Rationale

12 Exhibition entrance Foyer, ESOshop Multipurpose area (The Void) Planetarium entrance Planetarium Entrance

13 Restrooms, cloak rooms Picnic area Offices Storage, print inventory

14 Exhibition Areas

15 Exhibition Areas

16 Star roof 2 seminar rooms

17 The heart of the ESO Supernova is a planetarium with state-of-the-art projection technology and a scientifically accurate three-dimensional astronomical database, which ensures a unique and authentic immersive experience

18 Planetarium shows are displayed on a 360-degree dome, 14 metres in diameter. The dome can seat up to 110 visitors and has an inclination of 25 degrees. It is the largest tilted planetarium in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

19 The ESO Supernova contains an interactive astronomical exhibition. The exhibition consists of 13 themes and covers all important topics of astronomy. The exhibition is called The Living Universe

20 The ESO Supernova is built on a solid educational foundation with strong connections to the curriculum for each grade level

21 Up to 10 teacher trainings per year for all Member States

22 Goals of the education The ESO Supernova will engage young people in experiences and activities that will leave a lasting impression on them; inspiring and awakening an interest in science and technology through astronomy. The experience of the young visitors will be enhanced through active participation in 10 different knowledge acquisition activities.

23 COU-1552 Expected up to 100,000 visitors/year the first two years A part of ESO s existing Education and Public Outreach department benefitting from a maximum synergy Built-in compromises. Examples: Moving ESO main reception to ESO Supernova Will not be a fail-safe operation: Planetarium show unscheduled downtime: up tp 2%. Exhibition display unscheduled downtime: up to 5%. 2 FTE ISM staff FTE in-kind/volunteers/contractors Budget: 790 KEUR cash expenses The ESO Supernova contribution from ESO is capped at 250 keur/year.

24 Since COU-1552 Focus on reduction of operational risk (funding, staffing) Reduction of opening hours from 55 hours/week to 44 hours/week to maintain expense level ISM staffing has been completed (second, and last ISM hire is ongoing) Budget remains the same Fundraising has been started, but is clearly a unconventional activity for ESO with pros and cons

25 Timeline 2012 Letter is sent to Klaus Tschira Stiftung 2012 KTS shows interest ESO-KTS agreement signed ESO s first short fulldome planetarium show Journey to the Centre of the Milky Way released Dec ESO Supernova Master Plan v Ground-breaking Klaus Tschira passes away The world s first freely downloadable fulldome movie ~ From Earth to the Universe released ESO free Fulldome library for the community published Aug First Quarterly Programme draft is designed Oct Richtfest for workmen Completion of building shell ~ Handover of building to ESO ~ Completion of exhibition main part Feb-Mar 2018 Test operations ~ Inauguration and start of regular operations

26 Functions School visits: workshop/tour/show Planetarium shows Permanent + temporary exhibition Public events, talks, cosmic concerts, poetry under the stars Teacher training Guided tours in the exhibition, at ESO HQ Visualization showroom for astronomers Window for campus science Company events

27 Budget 2018 onwards Cash Expenses -741 k /year Facility expenses -323 k Planetarium, exhibition -218 k 2 Staff -200 k Cash Income 740 k /year ESO cash contribution 250 k Donations 50 k Food and merchandise sales 115 k Events (incl. buildings ABCDE) 69 k Partnerships with institutes/ companies/individuals 242 k Savings, external meeting room rental 64 k

28 Expenses (1041 keur)

29 Cash Expenses (741 keur)

30 Facilities Expenses (323 keur)

31 Planetarium & Exhibition Expenses (218 keur)

32 Cash Income (740 keur)

33 In-kind Income (300 keur)

34 Fundraising status as of (k )

35 Staffing, status Coordinator Educational coordinator (hiring ongoing) Receptionists (4 FTE) Guides (1 FTE volunteers) 5% ESO staff (1 FTE) Portuguese trainee (0.5 FTE) Support from epod (~2 FTE) and FLT/Janitors The main functions are now staffed.

36 Risk mitigation Even before the building is ready to use there is an enormous interest in the project from near and far. Part of the 2018 funding is raised, but clearly the biggest risk is the fundraising Plan B if the partnerships do not prove successful: use unconventional ways to raise funding. These may however require some smaller changes to ESO s culture. Plan C: investigate feasibility of charging fees for special events. Getting sufficient staffing is the second-biggest risk. Volunteers and existing epod staff will be the elastic in case there is an unforeseen shortage of staff. Staffing is getting trained and ready to start the operations The technical setup of planetarium and exhibition is finely tuned to minimize the need for person-power and to integrate into the existing ESO outreach model. A partnership for technical maintenance has been set up with Sky-Skan, a big German planetarium company in the Munich area.

37 Benefits for other MS Since 2015 we have worked on benefits for planetariums and science centres in the other MS: The ESO Supernova will be the world s first open-source planetarium. All material developed for the facility is freely downloadable to other planetariums and museum under Creative Commons. This is a first in history! (Planetarium/Fulldome shows, 3D models, VR panoramas, Music, museum content ) Educational materials is freely available, ready to use in the class room School groups will be encouraged from all MS (models to facilitate are being investigated). Ways to deliver shows and tours in other languages than English and German are being considered. Special campaigns for each MS are being planned.

38 In summary The ESO Supernova is not a standard ESO project and will clearly have ambitions that need to be adjusted with the available funding. All efforts have been made to integrate the project in the existing outreach structure to benefit from maximum synergy and costsavings The costs to ESO are strictly capped at 250 keur/year The ISM staffing complement is now full Fundraising is starting to pick up for real We re on track to making the ESO Supernova a world-leading astronomy outreach facility.

39 The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre is a unique opportunity for us all!

40 supernova.eso.org