Space Visualization Lab Assistant

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Please apply online at www.adlerplanetarium.org/become-a-volunteer

The Adler Planetarium has a unique volunteer opportunity available to welcome and introduce visitors to the Space Visualization Laboratory (SVL) when open to the public. SVL assistants help make exciting research and Adler projects accessible and ensure a high-quality experience for our visitors.

SVL presents the unique experience of a working visualization laboratory to museum visitors. Various projects are being developed all the time, and new devices are being tested. Visitors can interact with them at SVL, and meet Adler experts in an exciting and engaging environment while contributing their feedback. In turn, these interactions help in the creation of new experiences.

In this working laboratory, scientists, technicians, artists, and educators work together to create new ways for people to explore the universe. At SVL people can experience the prototypes of new interactive visualizations that will eventually move to other areas of the museum, and attend presentations by astronomers and related researchers that take advantage of the visualizations. Modern astronomical instruments produce such massive amounts of data that astronomers now rely on a diverse array of tools to properly display and analyze this information. Developing visualizations further enables scientists and the public to explore and interact with these large datasets in specialized ways.

We look to SVL Assistant Volunteers to:

• Welcome visitors and inform them about the expertise of the presenter.

• Inform visitors that in the SVL there should be no more than five children per

  adult in, supervised by that adult at all times.

• Serve as room monitor: make sure that visitor numbers are tracked and that

  3D glasses are cleaned and distributed.

• Attend to visitor activity to assure visitors are using the laboratory equipment

  within specific guidelines.

• Answer questions and explain how to use interactive visualizations.

• Monitor that all equipment is operating properly and request assistance when

  necessary.

• Make sure the room is left in orderly condition when open hours are finished.

• Make sure the room doors are securely closed and locked when open hours

  are finished.

* Assist SVL staff in movie database maintenance, and other behind-the-scenes tasks as requested.

Interested? Here’s what we look for:

• Ability to and interest in working with the public.

• Some knowledge of computers and technology preferred.

• Experience in public speaking or educating children preferred.

  Training will consist of:

• Attend a general Volunteer Program orientation.

• Additional training is provided on an individual basis. New volunteers work

  with staff members to become familiar with Space Visualization Laboratory

  policies and procedures as well as the rest of the museum.

• A one-day shadowing of an experienced volunteer is also required. Training

  opportunities will be scheduled through the Volunteer Program Manager upon acceptance of position.

  We ask volunteers in this position to:

• Make a minimum commitment of 1 year.

• Currently recruiting for Weekday shifts (11:45am-3:15pm) with a weekly

  commitment, or alternating Saturday shifts (12:45pm-3:15pm) or alternating Sunday shifts (12:45pm-3:15pm).