The renovation is made possible through a $1.2 million gift from Leslye and Ray Shellam honoring Leslye’s late father, Arkansas business leader L. Dickson Flake, and her late mother, Linda Blaine Flake. The Shellam Flake Planetarium will soon reopen after nearly two decades. But for faculty and students, the reopening is about far more than renovation and technology upgrades. It signals a new era of immersive, interdisciplinary learning.

For Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy, the planetarium represents a fundamental shift in how students experience complex scientific ideas.

鈥淲hat excites me most is the opportunity to transform how students experience physics,鈥� Guisbiers said. 鈥淭he planetarium allows abstract ideas 鈥� whether dynamical systems in classical mechanics or quantum state evolution in quantum computing 鈥� to become immersive and intuitive.鈥�

In fields such as quantum computing, many ideas are highly abstract. Guisbiers envisions the planetarium as a way to transform his teaching by making difficult core concepts and invisible phenomena more accessible. The dome鈥檚 immersive capabilities allow students to visualize challenging processes such as wavefunctions, carrier dynamics, and structure-property relationships.

鈥淚 would also integrate research data into the learning experience, allowing students to explore simulations and experimental results interactively,鈥� Guisbiers said. 鈥淭his connects coursework with research, strengthens undergraduate research opportunities, and helps students develop both scientific intuition and communication skills.鈥�

The planetarium will also elevate 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 role as a public-facing science institution. Rather than science existing primarily in classrooms and labs, the dome creates a shared space for research visualization, interdisciplinary programming, and community engagement.

Guisbiers notes that the planetarium is not just a site of education but a hub for the community.

鈥淭he 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock planetarium can become a bridge between the university and the broader Little Rock community by serving as a hub for STEM education, public science literacy, and interdisciplinary engagement,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eyond astronomy, it can function as a cultural and creative space where science, art, and storytelling intersect, strengthening the university鈥檚 role as a regional center for education and community connection.鈥�

Guisbiers sees the planetarium reopening as representative of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 broader investment in science infrastructure and education. Alongside the observatory reopening in March 2025, the planetarium showcases the university鈥檚 commitment to hands-on learning and expanding access to STEM education.

Dr. Michael DeAngelis, associate professor of geology, sees equally transformative potential in the planetarium鈥檚 reopening.

Currently, the geology department offers field experiences to locations such as the Bahamas for the Geology and Ecology of the Bahamas course, excursions to Colorado and New Mexico for Field Geology II, and local trips across Arkansas to the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains. The planetarium’s immersive capabilities unlock new opportunities for students to explore different regions of the world.

鈥淎s a geology professor, I consistently seek opportunities to expose our students to diverse global environments,鈥� DeAngelis said. 鈥淲ith the planetarium鈥檚 digital projection system, I can now envision taking our students on virtual expeditions: to the peaks of the Himalayas, the frozen depths of Antarctica, inside the giant crystal caves of Mexico, or even to never-before-visited locations like the Moon or Mars to explore their geology.鈥�

The planetarium鈥檚 versatility creates an interdisciplinary space for learning that extends beyond the sciences. DeAngelis sees potential for immersive experiences such as virtual art shows for art and design students, concert performances for music students, and visualized global supply chains for economics students.

For DeAngelis, the reopening is especially significant for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 science programs.

鈥淔or science programs, the planetarium will allow for the visualization of phenomena at scales beyond human perception,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his includes viewing microscopic interactions, such as microbial life, mineral structures, and simulated chemical reactions. It also encompasses the immense, like solar system formation, supernovae, and the expansion of the universe.鈥�

Concepts that once existed only in textbooks or on flat screens can now unfold across the dome in full scale, placing students inside the systems they study.

When asked what he hopes visitors will take away from their experience, DeAngelis answered with a single word:

鈥淎we,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd all of its synonyms 鈥� wonder, astonishment, reverence, and amazement.鈥�

As the university approaches its centennial, the reopening of the Shellam Flake Planetarium signals forward momentum in science education and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In reopening the planetarium, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is not just restoring a beloved space 鈥� it is strengthening its role as a regional hub for education, innovation, and opportunity.

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The gift from Leslye and Ray Shellam honors the legacy of Leslye’s late father, Arkansas business leader L. Dickson Flake, and her late mother, Linda Blaine Flake, and will name the facility the Shellam Flake Planetarium.

Shellam said the naming honors her parents, her father鈥檚 deep commitment to civic life in Arkansas, and her own belief in education as a bridge between the university and the community it serves.

Closed for nearly 20 years, the planetarium will undergo a full renovation, including major technology upgrades, improvements to the roof and flooring, and the installation of a state-of-the-art projection system that eliminates the traditional central projector, creating unobstructed views of the dome. The renovated space will feature modern, home theater-style seating for up to 89 visitors.

Shellam said she hopes the restored planetarium will serve as a point of connection between 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the broader community, creating opportunities for people to learn more about one another through shared experiences. She also emphasized the importance of student involvement, envisioning the planetarium as a space where students gain hands-on, real-world experience while helping bring science, art, and storytelling to life for audiences beyond campus.

Once reopened, the planetarium will serve 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, and staff, as well as K鈥�12 school groups and members of the general public. 

Shellam also envisions the planetarium as a multidisciplinary learning space that extends beyond astronomy to provide hands-on experiences for students across multiple majors. For example, the space will feature student artwork in adjacent outdoor areas, support student involvement in developing the planetarium鈥檚 visual identity, and offer business students opportunities to create and implement marketing plans.

鈥淭he planetarium has long been a special place on campus, and I wanted to help bring it back for today鈥檚 students and families,鈥� Shellam said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 meaningful to be able to restore a space that encourages curiosity and a love of science and learning.鈥�

The vision for the restored planetarium aligns closely with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 mission and its emphasis on applied learning and community engagement.

鈥淭his investment allows us to reimagine the planetarium as an active learning environment that supports teaching and discovery across disciplines,鈥� said Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淚t will provide 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with increased engagement with our community. It is exciting to bring life back to a space that means so much to Little Rock, the University, and future generations of planetarium visitors.鈥� 

The restoration also supports the university鈥檚 broader investments in science education, which include the campus observatory and other spaces along the Trojan Way. 

鈥淲e are incredibly grateful to Leslye Shellam for believing in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and in the vision we share for the future of the planetarium,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement. 鈥淭his gift reflects a close partnership with Provost Bain and our academic leaders to reimagine the planetarium as a vibrant, interdisciplinary learning space. As we approach our centennial, the Shellam Flake Planetarium honors our past while opening new doors for student learning and community engagement.鈥�  

The planetarium is on target to open in Fall of 2026 and is a part of the university鈥檚 broader science-based investments which includes the campus observatory, the future 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Museum of Natural History, and outdoor educational features such as the Solar System Walk along Trojan Way. Additional details about programming and public access will be announced as renovations continue and the planetarium is reimagined to support both student experiences and community engagement. To learn more about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Centennial Campaign and how supporters are making a lasting commitment to student experiences, visit .

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鈥淚t all started with the solar eclipse,鈥� said Dr. Greg Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy. 鈥淚 got a grant from the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium to purchase nearly 60 telescopes for members of the campus community and the public to celebrate the event and experience the wonder of the solar eclipse. I saw the momentum and excitement that was caused by the event. A lot of people were showing a renewed interest in space and astronomy. I thought it was a good idea to get the observatory reopened and to do something with all those telescopes and public interest.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will celebrate the observatory鈥檚 reopening with an open house starting at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 31, in the Physics Building 101. Following a ribbon cutting and presentation, guests will have the opportunity to tour the observatory space (weather permitting).

The observatory had previously been closed for more than 10 years. Guisbiers gained approval from university leadership to begin restoration efforts, enlisting the help of faculty, staff, and students. The team cleaned out the space, installed new flooring, painted, and prepared to reinstall an 11-inch telescope in the dome.

Matthew Burningham, a senior physics major from Las Vegas, was one of several students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock who participated in the efforts to reopen the observatory. During the campus solar eclipse celebration in 2024, Burningham saw firsthand how excited members of the community were about space and astronomy when he showed people how to use telescopes and ran the inflatable planetarium provided by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium.

鈥淚 am extremely excited to get the observatory going again,鈥� Burningham said. 鈥淚 believe the observatory is a good start to getting astronomy back into the spotlight. The observatory will allow us to go back to showing some of the wonders of space to the students directly. This feels like a small thing when 3D high-definition images are so often available, but there is something powerful in seeing these things first hand. It is my hope that seeing space will inspire students to further the understanding of science and get more students into the STEM fields.鈥�

The observatory鈥檚 dome, originally built in 1930 by newspaper executive Frederick Allsopp for his astronomy-enthusiast wife, was donated to the university in 1970 and installed on Stabler Hall during the tenure of Chancellor Carey V. Stabler. In its prime, the observatory hosted up to 70 events a year. While that number won鈥檛 be matched, Guisbiers plans to hold about 10 observations annually, offering both daytime and nighttime events. Daytime sessions will allow visitors to observe the sun, including sunspots and eclipses, while nighttime viewings will focus on planets, meteor showers, and galaxies.

鈥淭he observatory will serve as a gateway to scientific discovery, inspiring students and community members to explore the wonders of astronomy through hands-on learning experiences,鈥� said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School.

鈥淲e are very happy to reactivate this rooftop space and to maximize the use of the telescopes we obtained for the eclipse event,鈥� Provost Ann Bain added.

The revitalization of the observatory not only marks an important chapter in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 history but also reaffirms the university鈥檚 commitment to fostering scientific curiosity and engagement for students and the community alike.

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Rajendra Subedi, a doctoral student in applied physics and a native of Nepal, is a recipient of the 2024-25 STEM , which includes airfare, health insurance, and a monthly stipend. Subedi is just the second 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock student to receive the Chateaubriand Fellowship.

鈥淭his year feels like a dream,鈥� Subedi said. 鈥淚 had my first peer-reviewed paper published in ACS Omega, and now I have been selected for the Chateaubriand Fellowship. I am very excited and honored to receive such a comprehensive and competitive fellowship. I am very excited to travel to France to conduct research at such a wonderful facility with Dr. Herth.鈥�

Subedi will be working with Dr. Etienne Herth at the Center for Nanotechnology and Nanoscience at the University of Paris-Saclay from Jan. 15 to July 15, 2025. In France, he will research the development of flexible photodetector sensors using tellurium-based nano and quantum structures.

Subedi earned his master鈥檚 degree in physics from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. Before joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2021, he previously worked as a physics teacher in Nepal. Now, Subedi works in the research lab of Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. His research involves the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles and quantum dots.

The Chateaubriand Fellowship is a grant offered by the Embassy of France in the United States. It supports outstanding Ph.D. students from American universities who wish to conduct research in France for a period ranging from four to nine months. Chateaubriand fellows are selected through a merit-based competition, through a collaborative process involving expert evaluators in both countries.

The Chateaubriand Fellowship in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Biology-Health (STEM) for doctoral students aims to initiate or reinforce collaborations, partnerships, or joint projects between French and American research teams. This fellowship is offered by the Office for Science & Technology (OST) of the Embassy of France in partnership with American universities and French research organizations such as Inserm, Inria, and the University of Paris-Saclay.

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is excited to welcome the public and campus community to experience this rare and breathtaking event on campus. This day of science and observation for the whole family will take place from 10 a.m. 鈥� 4 p.m. Monday, April 8, with activities taking place both inside and outside the Jack Stephens Center.

鈥淚f we don鈥檛 observe the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, we won鈥檛 have another chance in Arkansas for the next 21 years,鈥� said Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭hat is why I encourage everyone to see the eclipse in April. For many of us, it鈥檚 a once-in-a-lifetime event.鈥�

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. Much of Arkansas lies within the path of totality with Little Rock expected to have two minutes and 29 seconds of totality. The partial eclipse will take place from 12:33-3:11 p.m. with the main event, the total solar eclipse, taking place between 1:51-1:54 p.m. in Little Rock.

The university’s School of Physical Sciences is organizing guided observation sessions equipped with solar telescopes from Celestron, allowing attendees to witness the eclipse with breathtaking detail as it is transmitted on large screens for all to enjoy. Additionally, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will have 50 telescopes featuring Solar Safe filter technology for children to safely observe the eclipse. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will also have 50 phone adapters, making it easy and safe for people to take a picture with their phone, and thousands of eclipse glasses for the crowd.

“The eclipse event at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is a prime example of how different academic fields can come together to explore and learn,鈥� Provost Ann Bain said. 鈥淲e’re grateful to everyone participating in this event, as their unique academic perspectives enrich the learning experience for all. We’re excited to offer this unique learning opportunity for our students and the wider community.”

Additionally, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will have an inflatable planetarium, a Foucault鈥檚 pendulum, meteorites on display, and a variety of demonstrations representing areas from the humanities to healthcare taking place throughout the day inside the Jack Stephens Center. Food trucks and children鈥檚 activities, such as manufacturing pinhole viewing boxes and face painting, will also be available to make sure all family members enjoy their entire day at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

, author of 鈥淣etworking for Nerds,鈥� will be giving a guest lecture at 10 a.m. in the Jack Stephens Center. For more than 20 years, Levine has been helping emerging and established leaders build meaningful careers. After the lecture, Levine will meet with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, and staff to give them advice on how to boost their careers.

The event is funded by the Donaghey Foundation, , and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

For more information on the solar eclipse event, visit .

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