NEPIC’s Planetarium visits The Wilton Centre
March 2009
Dr Stan Higgins, NEPIC CEO and Dave Willis, Wilton Centre Manager inside the portable planetarium
Wilton Centre residents were given the chance to witness a new teaching aid which is out of this world.
They were invited to visit the NEPIC portable planetarium in the Exhibition area during an event staged in January.
The planetarium, named Space Encounters and launched in October 2008, is an interactive astronomy and earth-science teaching tool used to teach school pupils across the region about the Universe and inspire some to consider careers in science.
Dr Stan Higgins, NEPIC CEO, Dave Willis, Wilton Centre Manager, and STEM Co-ordinator Helen Weddle showed more than 50 residents how the planetarium inspires youngsters.
Cramlington pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD)
have funded the planetarium by donating £16,000 to NEPIC, as the STEMPOINT Contract Holder for Northumberland.
The grant was donated by MSD's parent company, Merck & Co. Inc, through its International Neighbour of Choice grant programme. 
The planetarium is available for bookings by schools via Helen at helen.weddle@nepic.co.uk