Planetarium Announces Lecture Series for 2018-2019

Talks let local research community share its knowledge with the public

The William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College is pleased to announce the newest lineup of speakers in the James B. Kaler Science Lecture Series.

For more than 25 years, the planetarium has served as a conduit for the local research community to share its knowledge with the general public. Talks occur on the first Friday of the months classes are in session at 7 p.m., and admission to each is $2 at the door. Friends of the Staerkel Planetarium are admitted free of charge. 

The fall lectures will be highlighted with UIUC Engineering Professor David Ruzic speaking on fracking and cross-country pipelines. In November, astronomer Jeff Filippini will discuss dark matter, and in December, geologist Steven Marshak will bring firsthand experience and images of the recent volcanic activity in Hawaii. 

As we look into the new year, entomologist May Berenbaum brings us up close and personal with spiders and how they have been maligned in the movies. Storm chaser Andrew Pritchard returns to the dome in March with more exciting tornado video. The series ends in April as Alex Schwing (UIUC Electrical and Computer Engineering) focuses on artificial intelligence. 

The series lineup with descriptions is available at the planetarium website. For more information, visit the website or contact the planetarium at 217/351-2567. For a list of upcoming shows, contact the show hotline at 217/351-2446.