Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) has announced it will be presenting at the prestigious COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this November. The team at AOP have curated a bespoke dome show to demonstrate the impacts of Global Warming on Earth.
Titled “Our Place in the Cosmos”, the specially composed show by Professor Michael Burton, is a planetarium full dome show about the fragile place planet Earth resides in our Galaxy, the only habitat yet known that can sustain life.
To be featured in the ‘Green Zone’ for the duration of the Conference, the show will be presented daily, on some days it will be showcased twice, to a global audience, illustrating the contrasts of Earth and its nearest planetary neighbours, Venus, and Mars. It delves into their atmospheres to show how oceans might look on these planets, it illustrates what would happen to the Earth’s continents should sea levels rise.
Professor Michael Burton, Director at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium said: “We are extremely proud to be representing Northern Ireland and our work here, in Armagh, on a global scale. COP26 is a hugely significant event, with the ears and eyes of the world on it. To have the ability to talk about the cosmos and demonstrate the special place of the Earth and illustrate how ongoing research can inform the decisions of tomorrow is an honour. The presentation I have created clearly demonstrates what we know about our planet and the conditions that led to an environment suitable for life, but also pose questions for future investigation. Our planet is fascinating! COP26 provides us with a global platform to share the importance of science and space discovery in order to protect this planet and the wider solar system for future generations.”
Lecturer Paddy Craig and students at the Southern Regional College in Armagh collaborated with AOP, to create a unique soundtrack for this customised show.
Youth groups, civil society, academia, artists, business from across the UK and all over the world will be hosting events, exhibitions, cultural performances, workshops and talks in the Green Zone.
COP26 is the biggest summit the UK has ever hosted and is the most significant climate event since COP21, the 2015 United Nations climate conference which resulted in the Paris Agreement. The global event taking place from 1-12 November 2021 is bringing world leaders together to tackle climate change. The UK is aiming to secure a global plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
AOP will also be hosting a series of events in Armagh in parallel with the Glasgow summit and will check in live with the team at Glasgow to get first-hand information on what is happening. More information on the Armagh event programme will be available on our social media channels and www.armagh.space.
