Impact of Place-Based Narrative on Audience Engagement with Light Pollution Planetarium ShowAbbott, Elise Light pollutionPlanetariumplanetarium learningnarrative learningplace-based learningPlanetary Science and AstronomyB SLight pollution, with its negative impacts on the environment, health, and resource usage, is a consequential yet often overlooked socioscientific issue faced across much of the modern world. To investigate how different types of narrative structures in the planetarium could be used to educate the general public about light pollution, we presented one of two planetarium shows to a total of 52 families. The first show was designed with local elements incorporated into its story, utilizing the concepts of narrative learning and place-based education; the second show presented the same knowledge content in a documentary style without these local elements. While a few differences in audience outcomes were found across specific content areas between the two shows, overall results indicate that both shows significantly increased audience knowledge, awareness and concern, and willingness to act regarding light pollution. These results emphasize the potential of planetarium learning as a valuable tool for illuminating socioscientific issues.Julia Plummer, Thesis SupervisorChristopher Palma, Thesis Honors Advisoropen_access2026-04-03T14:09:09Zhttps://honors.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/10168ema221