What happens when Communications Arts undergrads and Physics undergrads collaborate on a project? In the case of a new show running at Michigan State University’s
Abrams Planetarium, the result is one big bang.
The
Relics of the Big Bang is a new program that was entirely developed and produced by MSU students, faculty and staff that features some of the cutting-edge research being conducted by MSU scientists and students.
“The program started with Chip Brock,” says Reinhard Schwienhorst, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy who conducts research at CERN and served as executive producer of the program. “He is my colleague and we have had several conversations about how to use the planetarium to communicate the exciting research at the LHC accelerator at the CERN laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland to the public.”
Schwienhorst’s work is supported by a National Science Foundation grant that required an outreach component. Reaching out to those who know how best to reach out to the public – the College of Communication Arts and Sciences.
“I was happy to see how quickly we were able to produce high-quality content,” says Schwienhorst, “and I am proud of how well the students are able to communicate the physics content and the excitement of particle physics research.”
The
Relics of the Big Bang will appear at the Planetarium on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. According to Schwinshorst the show is about the connections between particle physics and astronomy, but also between East Lansing and Switzerland, as well as the show’s animators and physicists.
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