Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Planetarium Science Center (PSC)

The BA Planetarium Science Center (PSC) is an independent, not-for-profit educational facility dedicated to increasing the public’s awareness, interest and understanding of science and technology through three sections, each of which approaches science in a different manner that is relatively unconventional to the Egyptian community.

The PSC comprises and/or offers the following services:

1) Planetarium Shows:

  • The Planetarium offers a diversity of fascinating scientific shows that are both entertaining and informative; the shows also cover a wide range of age groups, where they can enjoy:
    a- Live Shows by Astronomers
    b- Full-dome Shows
    c- IMAX Films
  • The Planetarium Section also includes a Production Unit responsible for the production of:
    d- Arabic dubbing of Planetarium Shows and IMAX Films
    e- Original Planetarium Shows (Arabic)

2) History of Science Museum:

  • Visitors can also enjoy tours of The HSM, which is a Static Exhibition with exact replicas of original artifacts that display highlights of scientific discovery throughout three eras:
    - Egypt of the Pharaohs,
    - Hellenistic Alexandria, and
    - the Arab-Muslim Supremacy.
  • The HSM features interactive presentations in different spots where visitors can browse more information about the Museum content using stand-alone computers, with the aim of linking our present visitors to their glorious past.
  • HSM Specialists conduct Interactive Contests and Workshops relevant to the Museum content for children, 6-16 years of age.
  • The HSM Team is currently preparing for the HSM Renovation by adding interactive exhibits to display new scientific achievements in subsequent historical epochs.

3) ALEXploratorium:

  • The ALEXploratorium is a hands-on science facility dedicated to making science accessible and interesting to the public through innovative and interactive activities that explain scientific facts and demonstrate their presence in everything we see, hear or touch in our daily life. The exhibits are designed to reinforce the discovery concept.
  • The ALEXploratorium is divided into:
    a- Discovery Zone: The Discovery Zone exhibits are designed to stimulate the curiosity of both children and adults to discover the miracles of science in a three thematic areas: Discover Yourself, Discover Your Environment and Discover Your Universe. ALEXploratorium Specialists (Explainers) conduct Guided Tours of the Discovery Zone for visitors of all age groups (not less than 6 years of age).
    b- Workshops Area: In the Workshops Area, ALEXploratorium Specialists (Animators) conduct Hands-on Workshops for children, 6-16 years of age, developed to cover a wide variety of scientific fields and natural phenomena.
    c- Listen and Discover Auditorium: The Listen and Discover Auditorium offers 2D and 3D scientific documentaries suitable for different age groups.
  • The ALEXploratorium also features the Planet Shop, which is a branch of the BA Gift Shop.

4) Programs and Events:

  • The PSC offers a large variety of activities, programs and events that tackle science from different angles with the aim of increasing the students’ love of science. The center conducts a selection of fun and interactive scientific activities:

    a- Annual Programs:
    - Summer Program
    Every summer vacation, the PSC designs the Summer Program; which is a bouquet of interactive activities that include, among others, hands-on workshops, lectures, shows, fieldtrips and camps. The Program aims to increase the students’ love of science in an  interactive and attractive manner, and is divided into stages by age group.
    - School Year Program
    During the school year, the PSC School Year program offers school students a selection of fun scientific activities, divided over the school academic calendar.
    - Mid-Year Program
    The Center also offers a special Mid-Year Program during the mid-year vacation.
     
    b- Annual Events:
    - Science Festivity
    Science Festivity is a 3-day event that takes place every year, where schools and university students, as well as NGOs sell science for free to the general public in an easily accessible manner. This gave the public an opportunity to got familiar with Science and Technology, as well as having fun and acquiring surprising knowledge.
    - Intel-BASEF
    The PSC, in collaborations with Intel Co. is organizing the Intel Bibliotheca Alexandria Science and Engineering Fair (Intel BASEF) hosted by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
    Intel BASEF brings together students in grades 9-12; 14 18 years of age; from Alexandria and neighboring governorates to train, research, innovate, compete, and winning.
    Intel BASEF winning projects, one team project and two individual projects will represent Egypt in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) takes place in the United States of America.
    - Eratosthenes
    The Planetarium Science Center celebrates Eratosthenes Festivity every year since 2003 on 21 June, the day of the summer solstice. School students gather at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Plaza to measure the circumference of the earth. This is to honor the outstanding scientist and third director of the ancient Library of Alexandria, using the method that he had used 2000 years ago.
    - World/Arab Environment Day
    The Arab Environment Day takes place in October, with the aim of raising the students’ environmental awareness by encouraging them to direct their talents and skills in developing environmental artwork and inventions. The festivity includes workshops, free visits, an exhibition, a lecture and a contest between schools.

    c- Programs:
    - Super Science Show
    The Super Science Show is a dynamic and highly motivational activity that gets children involved in exciting hands-on experiments, in the fields of physics, biology, and chemistry, that stimulate infectious enthusiasm. This ever-intriguing show allows children to use variety of materials, such as balloons, bouncing balls, balance board, water, liquid Nitrogen, dry ice and soda cans.
    - Chess Club
    The PSC is launching this program that aims at developing the mental capacity and analytical skills of children because learning how to solve a problem is actually more important than learning the solution to any particular problem. Through chess, we learn how to analyze a situation by focusing on important factors and by eliminating distractions.
    - Fun with Science
    The PSC offers the Fun with Science program, which applies a series of fables containing valuable messages that aim to provide children with a scientific basis, enabling them to make use of scientific facts as creative tools.
    - Space Technology
    The Space Technology program aims to introduce students to the marvels of space sciences and their applications in our daily lives. The ultimate goal of the program is to support young people to pursue their studies and careers in the field of science and technology in order to build Egypt’s future generation of scientists and researchers and create small scientific satellites to advance space research. The PSC’s mission is to popularize science and technology among students and the public at large.
    - ALEXploratorium Project Support
    The ALEXploratorium Project Support (APS) was initiated by the PSC three years ago with the aim of supporting the programs and projects that reflect a positive impact on the engineering field; to encourage young engineers to turn their ideas into feasible applications.
    - Camps and Fieldtrips
    - Lectures

    d- Outreach:
    - Science Clubs Initiative
    The Science Clubs Initiative (SCI) offers hands-on facilities and programs in selected public primary and preparatory schools in Alexandria and neighboring governorates to introduce enquiry-based practical science education. The initiative is designed to be replicated throughout Egypt on the near future to encourage students to pursue careers in science and technology.

5) Design and Fabrication:

  • The Design and Fabrication Unit (DFU) is a group of engineers and technicians with the capacity to produce science communication products using Egyptian low-cost labor and raw material.
  • The DFU is responsible for:
    a- ALEXploratorium Renovation every 2-3 years
    b- Interactive Exhibits Production for the ALEXploratorium, other BA-affiliated facilities (ex: Family Park), as well as external buyers
    c- Adapting and/or fabricating Exhibitions

6) Educational Publications:

  • The Educational Publications Unit is dedicated to the development of innovative and sustainable science journalism/communication portals and tools in the form of printed and/or digital publications; with the purpose of exploring, adapting and creating digital and printed science communication portals and tools that engage, inform, educate and inspire the public, children and youth.
  • The Educational Publications Unit is responsible for:
    a- Quarterly Popular Science Newsletter
    b- Website(s)
    c- Online Science Magazine
    d- Original Educational Booklets and Posters
    e- Adapted Educational Booklets and Posters

7) Conferences and Initiatives:

  • The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has the honor of hosting and organizing a number of conferences, which highlight its initiative and aspiration to be a focal point where scientists, researchers and the public at large from all over the world gather to discuss and exchange ideas.
  • PSC initiatives and conferences include:
    a- NAMES Founding Member and Secretariat Office Host
    b- MASAD Founding Member
    c- ANWST Secretariat Office Host
    d- PANS Initiative
    e- IPS Conference 2010
    f- SEAC’2009
    g- NAMES Conference 2008
    h- Women in Science Conference 2007
    i- WSEF 2007 (The World Space Environment Forum)
    j- Total Solar Eclipse Conference 2006
    k- Einstein Symposium 2005

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