Cosmology with Ben

GOAL, CONTENT AND TARGET AUDIENCE
The series aims to make complex astronomical concepts accessible to young learners by grounding them in familiar, everyday experiences. The goal is to strengthen students’ conceptual understanding of space science while fostering curiosity and scientific thinking.

The universe is vast, fascinating, and distant. How can we take something so far away and make it feel close? By using familiar elements, cosmologist (and astrophysicist) Ben takes the audience on a journey through the solar system, the galaxy, and eventually the entire universe (first episode: the solar system; second episode: the galaxy; etc.). The solar system is measured and scaled through the streets of Trondheim, making it easier to relate to its relative sizes and distances. The galaxy becomes a pizza. Dark matter becomes a hammer throw. In short, the entire universe is explained through what is familiar and close to us.

But why?

Because space matters. The target audience is anyone with an interest in science, with a particular emphasis on lower secondary school age.

INTENDED DIDACTIC / PEDAGOGICAL SETTING

The films are well suited for use in science lessons in primary school through the first year of upper secondary school. The idea is that the different episodes can be used as a visual entry point into more in-depth topics. Such an entry works well as a support structure (scaffolding) for further exploration, especially because Ben explains several relatively complex phenomena throughout the series (such as dark matter, the Doppler effect, dark energy, and why spiral galaxies are flat). Not only the students, but also the teacher, are given something concrete to build on. The aim is to distribute the films on platforms that make it easy for students to contact Ben if they have follow-up questions after watching the clips. The films can also function well as tools for activating prior knowledge before new topics are introduced.

EXAMPLE OF USE
A themed period in primary school focusing on space (for example through Global Science Opera):
1. The different classes watch the episodes that are relevant to them.
2. The students carry out an in-depth project based on what they have seen (for example, a group of 4th graders may choose to explore Saturn, while a group of 7th graders may prefer to explore the concept of dark matter).
3. After the project period, Ben is invited to answer questions that have arisen (via Zoom or in person).

TOOLS AND APPROACH
Humorous elements are deliberately included to create broader reach through short clips on social media. This can help stimulate a positive interest in the subject, while maintaining a strong scientific anchor on screen (Ben, who is a formally trained (astro)physicist).