LUMBERTON — The International Planetarium Society (IPS) has selected Kenneth C. Brandt, director of the Robeson Planetarium and Science Center in Lumberton as it’s “Week in the Italy” professional development competition winner.

Brandt was chosen from astronomers applying from around the United States.

He is a lecturer at the University of South Carolina Beaufort in Bluffton and is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and Co-Chairman of the International Planetarium Society’s Education Committee.

Brandt will spend two weeks in Italy teaching astronomy and space science lessons to students and professional educators.

He also will make public presentations to general audiences.

The tour will begin with the city of Perugia and then will include the astronomical planetariums of Assisi and other astronomical facilities like Amelia, Florence, Ravenna and Lumezzane Planetarium, Serafino Zani Observatory and end in Padua, where Mr. Brant will be an honored guest at the 2024 National Meeting of Italian Planetariums.

IPS professional development opportunities, titled “A Week in the United States,” and “A Week with the Society of the German-Speaking Planetariums” are modeled after the long-running and successful program “Week in Italy” (initiated in 1995) and are also supported by the IPS.

The IPS hopes that these initiatives will serve as models for other countries to follow and, as the years pass, evolve into a broader cultural and professional development exchange for planetarians around the world. The global association of planetarium professionals, IPS has nearly 700 members from 35 countries around the world.

They represent schools, colleges and universities, museums, and public facilities of all sizes, including both fixed and portable planetariums. The primary goal of the Society is to encourage the sharing of ideas among its members through conferences, publications, and networking.

By sharing their insights and creative work, IPS members become better planetarians.