Stars 'r' Us! is a collaboration between the university-based researchers at UCL, Heriot-Watt University, the University of Nottingham, the Open University and Strathclyde University with colleagues from the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory, Greenwich which since 2003 has developed and operated a public engagement exhibit in Astrochemistry. Stars 'r' Us! was selected to participate in the Royal Society Summer Exhibitions in 2004 and 2006, which showcased the best of scientific research across the UK. Our exhibit proved to be a popular attraction at the both events. Both events were busy and rewarding weeks where school children, students, the general public and scientists were able to visit our exhibit, discuss its content and interact with scientific research in action.
The Stars 'r' Us! appearance at the 2004 Royal Society Summer Exhibition has been featured in the house magazine of the Royal Astronomical Society, Astronomy and Geophysics, and the article "The Making of Stars 'r' Us!" can be downloaded as a pdf.
Since its genesis, Stars 'r' Us! has regularly gone on tour. It was popularly received at the Royal Greenwich Observatory
For further information about the Stars 'r' Us! exhibit please contact one of the organisers
Stars 'r' Us! has been very successful in attracting the support of learned societies, research councils and industry. A list of our sponsors is below. The final reports from grants won from the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) and from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPRSC) for a Partnerships for Public understanding award from the EPSRC for Stars 'r' Us! can be downloaded in PDF format from here and here, respectively.
- British Council
- Royal Astronomical Society
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Institute of Physics
- EPSRC
- PPARC
- CCLRC
- Adixen by Alcatel Vacuum Technology
- Caburn Vacuum Science Ltd
- Hiden Analytical
- Kurt J. Lesker
- Leybold Vacuum
- Oxford Applied Research
- Oxford Scientific
- SHI Cryogenics Group
- Thermo Scientific
- VAT
- VG Scienta
- VTS
- University of Nottingham
- Heriot-Watt University
- Open University
- UCL
- University of Strathclyde
- National Maritime Museum Royal Observatory Greenwich