Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University

Join the Rowan University College of the Arts for a free screening of the documentary "Flower and Flame" honoring glass artist and Artist-In-Residence Paul J. Stankard, in the Edelman Planetarium on May 28 at 7 pm.

Directed by Daniel R. Collins, “Flower and Flame” (2024) is a 66-minute documentary that traces Stankard’s journey from a curious child exploring the natural beauty of New England to an internationally celebrated artist working in glass.

The film offers an intimate look at his creative evolution, from his early training in scientific glass to his bold decision to pursue a life in the arts, capturing his deep connection to nature, spirituality, and craft.

Join us!
May 28, 2026
6:30 p.m. Reception
7:00 p.m. Screening

• Free & Open to the Public
• Reservation required. Visit go.rowan.edu/flowerandflame

As an astronomer, Amy Barraclough has spent her career helping people understand the importance of dark skies. During Mission Patagonia, learning about conservation further expanded that focus.

One clear takeaway: addressing light pollution matters far beyond astronomy. Artificial light at night impacts ecosystems, human health, and wastes enormous amounts of energy—while also erasing the night sky.

Reducing light pollution is one way awe turns into action, protecting both the environment and our shared view of the universe.

This is what looks like: curiosity that doesn’t stay in one lane, and expertise that grows by crossing boundaries.

Awe was the engine behind the learning opportunities of Mission Patagonia. Vast landscapes and close wildlife encounters created moments that can't be replicated through data alone.

Awe wasn't a byproduct of the expedition. It was what made learning possible.

Getting to the field site for Mission Patagonia was itself a learning experience. Standard transportation wasn't always possible, so the Nature Guardians relied on local knowledge and the tools best suited to the terrain.

That included unconventional solutions - like riding the scoop of a front loader! This wasn't done for novelty, but for practicality to move people and equipment off the water and up the rocky shoreline to the dormitories.

These moments reinforced a key lesson: exploration requires adaptability, collaboration, and respect for place.

Distance was one of the most powerful sources of awe during Mission Patagonia. Reaching Reserva Elemental Melimoyu required patience, flexibility and deep trust in local expertise.

For the Nature Guardians, travel involved long stretches of terrain and unconventional solutions because in places like this, the landscape determines how you move through it.

That's no moon - it's a space station! No, wait, it is a moon!

Mimas bears a striking resemblance to George Lucas' Death Star, but that is pure coincidence. The first Star Wars movie, A New Hope, came out in 1977, but images of Mimas didn't come out until Voyager 1's flyby in 1980. Higher-resolution images from the Cassini spacecraft, spanning 2004 to 2017, show the 80-mile-wide Herschel crater in incredible detail.

In 2012, Cassini showed us Tethys also has a large crater that, fortunately, isn't a super laser from a fully operational battle station.

Earlier this year, we announced that Edelman Planetarium Director Amy Barraclough had been selected as a Nature Guardian for Mission Patagonia, a research expedition to a remote region of Chile.

With time to reflect, one lesson stands above the rest: awe. Awe at the land, at the unexpected wildlife encounters, and at the sheer distances involved shaped every part of the experience.

This post begins a short series reflecting on Mission Patagonia and how awe can change how we learn, think, and care.