(February 8, 2023) - Star gazing allows us to observe the many wonders of the night sky. It is an enjoyable pastime filled with many educational opportunities; star gazers often speak about how rewarding an experience it is to identify constellations such as the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) or Cassiopeia. And for those interested in astronomy, planetariums, which are essentially theatres designed to project a simulation of the night sky on a dome ceiling, offer out-of-this-world locations to learn and be entertained by the plethora of teachings and stories about the night sky.
Laurentian University’s 10-meter wide Doran Planetarium recently welcomed a new Director, Dr. Hoi Cheu. Full Professor of Liberal Arts and interdisciplinary researcher, Cheu has been teaching at Laurentian since 1999. He is well known amongst his students and colleagues for his engaging lectures. In 2011, he received a Teaching Excellence award, presented annually to faculty members who have demonstrated an outstanding ability to impart knowledge and invoke enthusiasm from their students. About his recent appointment to the Planetarium, Cheu fittingly enthused that he is “‘over the moon’ excited.”
“I was a science student until my second year of university,” said Cheu. “When I was in high school, astronomy was ‘my thing.’ I chaired the Science Club and my first project for the Joint School Science Exhibition was called ‘The Life of the Stars.’ In the following year, I led a project to explain how the dome of Hong Kong’s Space Museum was built.” Each of these projects involved about twenty to thirty students taking shifts through ten summer days in Hong Kong’s City Hall. “That was how I turned from being an extreme introvert into a public speaker – explaining astrophysics and the architecture of a planetarium to thousands of people.”
The Doran Planetarium was donated by the Doran family to Laurentian University in 1967. At the time, William J. Doran was the President of Doran Breweries, better known in the Greater Sudbury community as Northern Breweries.
Until 1970, the Doran Planetarium was located in a portable beside the University’s Science 1 building, after which it was housed in a specially constructed wing of the Fraser Building. Roger Leclaire served as the Planetarium’s Director for its first decade of operations. Thereafter and between 1977-1994, the Planetarium fell under the direction of a variety of professors, predominantly affiliated with the Physics department.
In 1994, the University funded a complete update of the Planetarium and appointed Professor Paul Émile Legault to serve as its Director. He remained in this role for thirty-nine years, and taught in the University’s Physics department for fifty-four years.
On January 18, 2023, Laurentian and SNOLAB paid tribute to Legault’s legacy. In this special event, Legault shared his favourite stories about stars and constellations from various traditions. Attendees were enthralled by the magic of the Planetarium, and celebrated Legault’s many years of service.
“My family, friends and colleagues filled the planetarium for my last presentation as Director,” expressed Legault. “Their presence in such a large number overwhelmed me and I did not expect so many accolades for just doing work I enjoyed. The thoughtful words engraved on the trophy presented to me brought tears to my eyes. The Doran Planetarium has and will always be part of my heart. I am confident that Dr. Cheu, because of his interest and energy, will with his team, successfully continue to open up the minds of young students to science.”
“Paul Émile dedicated his whole career to education,” said Cheu. “And he communicates more than his rich knowledge in astronomy. He teaches children how to be curious while they are amused by the beauty of the night sky. That is invaluable for nurturing young scientific minds. We need a team to match his greatness.”
Alongside Dr. Cheu, the current bilingual team of the Planetarium includes Alexandre Leblanc (Materials Science PhD candidate), Juliette Deloye and Rachel Richardson (Education & Outreach Coordinators of SNOLAB), and Dr. Christine Kraus as supervisor (SNOLAB Research Scientist). Anishinaabe Akinomaagewin Bemwidoor (Knowledge Carrier), William Morin (Human Studies and Interdisciplinarity PhD student) is also a partner, who ensures that the Planetarium has tricultural capabilities. This team extends the reach of the Laurentian and Sudbury communities, as they welcome demonstration requests from any primary or secondary school, as well as other interested groups.
“We are excited about the future of the Planetarium,” informed Cheu. “And we have many plans to enhance the offerings of the Planetarium to members of our community. What we need to remember is that this space is not simply for science education. It also provides excellent opportunities to tell stories. Our Planetarium offers a weatherproof space for Indigenous land-based learning. Virtually, when sitting in the Doran, you are under the sky and can tell stories connected to Indigenous history, wisdom, as well as environmental and scientific knowledge.”
Cheu and team are in the process of applying for grants to turn the Doran Planetarium into a more diverse space for education.“The idea is to enhance this welcoming space to support inclusive teachings beyond the classroom,” said Cheu. “Looking at the cosmos can help us put things into perspective. It helps us recognize our humble existence, our fragile living environment, and our connection to the universe. Learning about astronomy can be deeply spiritual.”
More information about demonstrations and special events at the Doran Planetarium are available online.