This Giving Day: The Wolf Pack Way, the College of Science is asking the community to consider making a gift to support the installation of new, cutting-edge technology in the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center’s dome. With the unveiling of the George W. Gillemot Dome, visitors will experience stunning visuals powered by over 3,800 LED panels and by sponsoring a panel, donors will contribute to setting a new standard for experiential learning and community engagement.
"The Cosm display technology is truly out-of-this-world,” Fleischmann Planetarium Director Paul McFarlane said.
A historic gift from the Gillemot Foundation in 2023 provided funding for the establishment of an aerospace engineering department and to bring the Cosm technology to the planetarium in memory of George W. Gillemot, an aviator, inventor, businessman and philanthropist. The planetarium is seeking additional support from the community to bring the vision for a revitalized planetarium to life.
One giant leap for the Fleischmann Planetarium
Over 60 years ago, in 1963, the Fleischmann Planetarium opened the first dome theater with a projector displaying horizon-to-horizon visuals. With the installation of the Cosm panels, the planetarium will continue its innovative history by being the first University planetarium with Cosm technology.
“Having seen this technology in person, I can’t wait to see the immersive experience brought to our campus in the George W. Gillemot Dome,” College of Science Dean Louisa Hope-Weeks said.
Dean Hope-Weeks, along with University President Brian Sandoval, McFarlane, and other university staff supporting the project, visited Cosm’s demonstration facility last year in Salt Lake City.
“The visuals are so lifelike you'll feel like you can reach out and touch them!” President Sandoval said.
Sponsor a Panel Program
The key to the spectacular visuals offered by Cosm’s CX System is the installation of thousands of panels with crisp, vibrant image display technology. The panels, approximately one square foot each, will span the interior of the dome, displaying 100 times brighter than traditional projection domes and with ultra-high resolution.
The College of Science launched the Sponsor a Panel Program to encourage support for the planetarium’s renovation costs. By donating $250, sponsors can have a name of their choice displayed during the planetarium pre-show presentation of every dome show for a year, starting when the planetarium reopens after renovations.
The funds raised with the Sponsor a Panel Program will go toward site preparation and renovation of key areas of the planetarium facility. When the Fleischmann Planetarium reopens after beginning renovations in 2025, visitors of all ages will be able to experience the stars in incredible detail, with a whole universe to explore. More information about how to sponsor a panel this Giving Day is available online.
