Abstract

Invited Talk - Plenary

Job talk Stiftung Planetarium Berlin

Tim F. Horn
Stiftung Planetarium Berlin

The Stiftung Planetarium Berlin (SPB) brings together four of Berlin’s major astronomical institutions - the Archenhold Observatory, the Wilhelm Foerster Observatory, the Planetarium am Insulaner and the Zeiss-Großplanetarium - under one organizational framework. As a unique cultural and educational foundation, it operates at the interface of science, communication, and public engagement, reaching over half a million visitors annually. This talk explores how astronomers can actively shape science communication and public education through professional careers outside traditional academic pathways. Drawing on the foundation’s diverse programmatic work - ranging from live shows and exhibitions to citizen science, teacher training, and media production - I will outline the variety of roles astronomers can take on: as science communicators, content developers, program curators, educators, and institutional leaders in planetariums and science centers. Particular attention will be given to the competencies needed in this field, how they relate to typical research training, and how early-career astronomers can prepare for such trajectories. The Stiftung Planetarium Berlin will serve as a case study for how astronomers can find meaningful, stable, and creative employment at the intersection of scientific rigor and public relevance.