College Installs Voyage Solar System Exhibit to Expand STEM Outreach and Education

September 18, 2024

Hudson Valley Community College has installed a permanent Voyage Mark II Model Solar System exhibit on campus as a STEM education tool available to students, educators and the public. Located on the college’s Troy campus, the one- to 10-billion scale models of the Sun and planets, and the distances between them, provide those interested in outer space with a conceptual understanding of the vastness of the solar system and the position of Earth within it.

The exhibition’s 13 display stations span nearly half a mile and were plotted by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education. Individual displays showcase planets and large moons that are laser sculpted in 3D inside crystal block with high resolution full-color storyboards with compelling text and imagery. The exhibition is ADA compliant, and offers a rich visitor experience for those with disabilities. The exhibitions are designed for wheelchair access, and include tactile elements for the blind and vision impaired.

The exhibit provides a unique opportunity for experiential learning for the college’s students as well as children in the college’s summer camp programs, K-12 school groups, and community youth programs. They will be given opportunities to engage in space exploration, decipher their place in the universe, and see how their world extends beyond community and national boundaries. Hudson Valley’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion also plans to utilize the exhibition as part of its STEM Outreach Workshop Initiative for middle and high school students.

“We are very excited to announce the installation of the new Voyage model solar system exhibit on campus,” said Hudson Valley Community College Officer in Charge Louis Coplin. “The college is always looking for new and innovative ways to invite local community members to the campus and enrich our own students’ learning experience, and we are thrilled to offer this new teaching tool and public education resource that is accessible to everyone.”

There are currently 15 permanently installed Voyage exhibitions across the nation on college campuses and in museums, science centers and public parks. An additional three are planned to be installed this year. Voyage is a program of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education and Exhibitology. The college’s Executive Dean of HVCC North, Dr. Jonathan Ashdown, led the efforts to bring the project to campus.

"The installation of the Voyage exhibit at our Troy campus represents more than just a remarkable scale model of our solar system; it's a beacon of inspiration for our students and the community,” said Dr. Ashdown. “This exhibit, set along outdoor trails, will not only enrich the campus experience, but also ignite curiosity and foster a deeper connection with the wonders of our universe."