Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society Candidate for Board Director

Steven L.J. Russo

Planetarium Manager / Director

Suits-Bueche Planetarium

Schenectady Museum

Schenectady, New York

I have been a MAPS member since 1973, and during the past three decades have been an active member of MAPS; serving as the news editor for the Constellation for five years (1986 – 1991), Treasurer/Membership Chairman for six years (1992 – 1997), and Chairman of the Audit Committee for the last three years.  I am currently a member of the Constitutional Review Committee, and a member of the MAPS Education Mentor Network.

I also hold memberships in SEPA, GLPA, and IPS, and am an IPS Fellow.

The Planetarium field has been evolving during the past several years.  Each Planetarium is somewhat unique, depending on our size, audience, cities we are located in, and our equipment.  We all do programs that meet the needs of our audiences.  However, one thing that I do not want the field to drift away from is that the Planetarium is the best place to TEACH Astronomy.   It is a “Classroom of the sky”.   Just this past year, I was honored by Public Television in Albany, New York, as Teacher of the Month, for using the planetarium as a teaching tool for science and math.

If elected to the Board, I will work with the other Board members and the general membership to strengthen what all planetaria do, and to help further the goals of Astronomy education in our field. It would be an honor and a privilege to serve MAPS as a board member.

Thank you.