Planetarium curator and director of collections to speak at IC
Pedro Raposo, curator and director of collections at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, will speak about his work during a free, public presentation at Illinois College on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. in Kirby Learning Center, room 6.
“It is critical that our students understand the breadth of career opportunities available to them, as well as the practical applications of the liberal arts,” said Jenny Barker-Devine, chair of the Department of History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religion. “Raposo’s work clearly shows students the importance of the skills, such as critical thinking and communication, that we build through our courses.”
Raposo oversees the planetarium’s astronomical instruments, prints, and rare books. During the program, he will share his experiences as a public historian and highlight the critical role collections play in enriching the planetarium’s research and community educational activities. He will also speak about the Adler Planetarium’s vision to “connect people, communities, and institutions to one another through the wonder of space science so we can explore our universe together and use our collective knowledge and skills to create a better world for everyone.”
Raposo has published work on topics such as the history of 19th-century observatories, astronomy and empire, and the history of modern planetaria. Raposo has acted as content expert and curator for several award-winning exhibitions. His current research interests include the history of visual and mechanical representations of the solar system and the role of photography in collecting, documenting, and curating techno-scientific artifacts. He holds a doctorate in the history of science from the University of Oxford.
This event is hosted by the Paul Findley Congressional Office Museum and the Department of History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religion and is part of the Conversation with a Curator series. The Conversation with a Curator series is designed to educate and engage audiences with the exciting range of the public history field.
For more information about this program, contact Samantha Sauer, assistant professor of history, archivist, and curator of the Paul Findley Congressional Museum at 217.245.3595 or samantha.sauer@ic.edu.