The DIPC’s “STROM – Inclusive Astronomy” exhibition opens today at the Pamplona Planetarium

The “STROM – Inclusive Astronomy” exhibition, created by the DIPC as part of the Passion for Knowledge festival, invites visitors to explore the cosmos through tactile, audio and audiovisual experiences.

This morning, the Pamplona Planetarium was the stage for the presentation of “STROM – Inclusive Astronomy”, the multi-sensorial and inclusive exhibition created by the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) as part of the Passion for Knowledge festival. It is being held at the Pamplona Planetarium after its début event at Tabakalera, in Donostia-San Sebastian.

STROM invites visitors to explore the cosmos through tactile, audio and audiovisual experiences, with the aim of making science accessible to all, without barriers of any kind.

The opening ceremony was divided into two parts. First, a presentation was given on the same stage where the exhibition is being held and it was attended by the following people: Paula Noya, Director of Cultural Infrastructures at NICDO; Patricia Fanlo, the Government of Navarra’s Minister for Universities, Innovation and Digital Transformation; Pedro Miguel Echenique, President of the DIPC and Professor Emeritus of the UPV/EHU; Izaskun Azcona, Navarra delegate of the La Caixa Foundation.

Paula Noya, Director of Cultural Infrastructures at NICDO, was first to take the floor. After saying a few words to welcome and thank everyone who was present, she stressed the importance of organising projects like STROM: “Hosting an exhibition of this kind at the Pamplona Planetarium is extremely important as it is aligned with our values of education, scientific dissemination and promoting equal opportunities. There are not many inclusive exhibitions like STROM which support science and make it accessible to all citizens without any barriers”.

She then gave the floor to Patricia Fanlo, the Government of Navarra’s Minister for Universities, Innovation and Digital Transformation, who underscored the key role that science and innovation play in driving progress in society:

“The Government of Navarra wants to promote programmes designed to spark an interest in science and technology in all boys and girls from an early age. The STROM astronomy exhibition that we are presenting at the Pamplona Planetarium promotes careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in a number of ways. It is not just a space for observing, we also organise workshops, talks and practical activities where visitors can experiment, ask questions and learn directly. These experiences strengthen their connection to STEM disciplines and allow them to picture themselves as future professionals in science and technology”.

The third speaker was Izaskun Azcona, the Navarra delegate of La Caixa Foundation, who concluded the speeches by highlighting the value and importance of inclusive dissemination and the social impact of this type of project: “We have been working together with the Pamplona Planetarium for many years and, at La Caixa Foundation, we are committed to the transformative power of education, as demonstrated by our collaboration with the Pamplona Planetarium in the Izar Eskola programme. This partnership fosters scientific interest, curiosity and equal opportunities, by bringing together science, dissemination and education. We share the Planetarium’s goal of creating a space for critical thinking that addresses issues with a great social impact which concern people today, with a cross-cutting approach that combines science, dissemination and education. Mila esker aunitz», she concluded.

Finally, Pedro Miguel Etxenike, President of the DIPC and Professor Emeritus of the UPV/EHU, expressed his delight at holding the exhibition at the Pamplona Planetarium, remarking on his fondness for this centre: “Science sows a seed of change that is vital for achieving more enlightened and democratic societies. And astronomy in particular is an excellent vehicle for awakening scientific curiosity, especially among the younger generations. STROM fulfils all of these objectives, and also takes care to include people with different abilities, a responsibility that both the DIPC and the Pamplona Planetarium have decided to actively embrace”.

Colloquium with the pupils of Arizmendi Ikastola from Arrasate

After the speeches, a colloquium was held with the pupils of Arizmendi Ikastola from Arrasate in the Ibn’Ezra room. The 12-year-old, first-year students visited the Planetarium as part of the Star School programme and, during their visit, as part of the presentation of STROM (an activity included in the school programme), they were able to share their concerns with Pedro Miguel Etxenike and Silvia Bonoli, astrophysicist, Ikerbasque researcher at the DIPC and scientific curator of STROM, who also took part in the talk moderated by the Planetarium’s astrophysicist, Iñaki Ordoñez.

An accessible, multi-sensory journey through the cosmos

The “STROM – Inclusive Astronomy” exhibition is the result of an international collaboration that brings together experts in inclusive astronomy from different parts of the world. They include the UPV/EHU, the International Astronomical Union, the Giant Magellan Telescope, the Planetarium of Medellín and Diego Portales University in Chile.

Thanks to this joint effort, the DIPC has built a project that ensures an accessible, multi-sensory and educational experience, bringing knowledge of the cosmos to all. With its arrival at the Pamplona Planetarium, the exhibition reaffirms the centre’s commitment to science without barriers that is accessible and inspiring for everyone.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to experience a multi-sensory journey through the cosmos. It has several areas that each offer different sensory experiences. The exhibition features a variety of elements, including tactile panels where visitors can explore the shapes of galaxies and constellations with their fingers, the opportunity to learn about the sounds of the Universe by listening to phenomena such as solar activity, or the possibility of witnessing fascinating processes like the birth of a black hole.

In short, this innovative project offers an inclusive and immersive way of discovering the vastness of the Universe, ensuring that science is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.

Tickets are now available on the Planetarium’s website and can also be purchased at the ticket office.

Admission is free and includes the option of a guided tour for 3 euros. There are also discounts for groups of four people who would like to enjoy the guided tour, for 10 euros. The aim of the “STROM – Inclusive Astronomy” exhibition is to guarantee universal accessibility, and for this reason, tickets that include a guided tour will be free of charge for people with functional diversity, to ensure that they can fully enjoy this experience.