INSAP conferences explore the rich and diverse ways in which people of the past and present incorporate astronomical events into literary, visual, and performance arts. This emphasis distinguishes INSAP from other conferences that focus on archeoastronomy, ethnoastronomy, or cultural astronomy. INSAP provides a mechanism for a broad sampling of artists, writers, musicians, historians, philosophers, scientists, and others to talk about the diversity of astronomical inspiration.

Invited speakers scheduled to make presentations include Barbara Stafford, Professor of Art History, University of Chicago; Jim Kaler, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy University of Illinois; John Carswell, formerly curator of Islamic art at the Oriental Institute and Sotheby's; Donna Cox, Professor of Art and Design, University of Illinois; Mary Quinlan–McGrath, Professor of Art History, Northern Illinois University; Michael Shank, Professor of the History of Science, University of Wisconsin Madison.

INSAP V is dedicated to the memory of one of its founders and strong supporters, Ray White Jr.

Click here to view photos of your week at Chicago's Adler Planetarium.

While supplies last, you may order INSAP Posters or INSAP Tote Bags for $5.00 each (plus shipping). To order, send an email to insapv@adlerplanetarium.org

We hope you enjoyed INSAP V and your visit to Chicago. Please take a few minutes to complete an evaluation of the conference. This evaluation form also gives you the option to be included on a list of INSAP V participants, which will be distributed at a later date. To be included on this list, return your evaluation form by August 15.

Download the Evaluation Form here: Word File Text File

Return the evaluation form to:

• Email: insapv@adlerplanetarium.org
• Fax: 312-341-9935
• Mail: INSAP V / Jodi Lacy Adler Planetarium
  1300 South Lake Shore Drive
  Chicago, IL 60605

Your INSAP conference packet included a list of all INSAP V presenters. On August 25, 2005, an updated contact list was emailed to all INSAP V conferees. This list includes all INSAP V presenters, and other attendees who submitted evaluation forms by August 15. If you did not receive your updated list, please email insapv@adlerplanetarium.org

INSAP V presenters will be contacted when information is available regarding the publication of INSAP V Proceedings. In addition, pertinent information (guidelines, submission format, deadlines, publication format, publication date) will also be posted on this website.

The INSAP Executive Committee will soon begin planning INSAP VI, which will be held in 2007. If your institution is willing to host the next conference, please include this information in the above evalulation form or email insapv@adlerplanetarium.org .

The full conference schedule is now available!

Please excuse the rough formatting, and download the conference schedule here:
Word File Text File

Afternoons for conferees will feature tours of astronomically–inspired art at the Museum of Contemporary Photography; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Oriental Institute; and the Joan Flasch Artists Book Collection at the School of the Art Institute's Flaxman Library. These tours are included in the conference registration fee; sign–up is at Conference Check–in.

Dynamic musical, artistic, and literary performances in the evenings are included in the conference registration fee, but will be open to the general public. Please see the INSAP Public Events Page for more information.

The INSAP Committee would like to encourage attendance by observers not making conference presentations. The conference registration fee for the full week is $425; daily registration will be available for $100. After June 10, the conference registration fee for the full week will be $475; daily registration will be $125. The registration fee includes all sessions, meals, and events listed on the Conference Schedule, except the Pre–Conference Trip.

INSAP Registration is now available. There are two ways to register and pay:

High–quality dormitory housing for conferees has been arranged at the University Center for $75 per night. Reservations are for single bedrooms with shared bath (shared with one other room) and a common area with kitchenette (shared with three other rooms). Make your reservation using the Conference Registration methods listed above.

For information about the University Center, please see their website, or download information here: Word File Text File

Make your reservation using the Conference Registration methods listed above. The deadline for housing reservations is June 10.

If you choose to make your own housing arrangements, there are many suitable hotels in the downtown/loop area. Download a list of hotels that are near the Adler Planetarium: Word File Text File

The Adler Planetarium is accessible by CTA #12, #127, and #146 buses. Please see the CTA's website for schedules and maps.

For information on Adler Planetarium parking, public transporation, and Museum Campus maps, please see the Adler Visitor's Guide webpage.

Download a list of Chicago museums here: Word File Text File

Download a list of restaurants near the University Center here: Word File Text File

When the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum opened on May 12, 1930, it was the first planetarium outside of Europe. Today, it features state-of-the-art theaters and exhibits, and one of the world's most important collections of astronomical artifacts. The Adler is dedicated to researching and presenting the rich breadth of astronomy: the investigation of scientific knowledge in the past and the present, the exploration of the human place in the cosmos, and the inspiration of human imagination. The Adler embodies the spirit of INSAP, and is proud to host INSAP V in honor of its 75th Anniversary celebrations.

The deadline for submissions has passed, but we encourage conference attendance by those who will not be presenting.

Proposals are invited for conference presentations. A complete proposal for a conference presentation includes a Presentation Proposal Cover Sheet; a 250–word Presentation Proposal Abstract; and a one–page CV. We especially invite presentations on the inspiration of art produced for public spaces, including planetaria. Proposals relating to North American arts and modern astronomy are also encouraged. Artists are encouraged to submit proposals for presentations or exhibitions within a planetarium theater or in one of the gallery spaces reserved for the conference (these proposals may include up to five image attachments). INSAP V offers several presentation formats: slides, Powerpoint, video, DVD, and two planetarium theaters (with Zeiss and Digistar/StarRider technologies). We will have a traditional poster presentation format as well as an electronic bulletin board for displays. The latter formats may be made accessible to general Adler Planetarium visitors. Notifications will be sent on February 28, 2005.

Proposal Forms:
Download these Word files and e-mail them to the address below. We have included plain text files for those who cannot read Word documents.

Presentation Proposal Cover Sheet: Word. Text
Presentation Proposal Abstract: Word, Text

Complete proposals (Cover Sheet, Abstract, CV) must be received by December 31, 2004. Emailed proposals are preferred. Proposals and questions should be via

INSAP V
History of Astronomy Department
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605

Please check this website for further information.

The first INSAP Conference took place June 27 – July 2, 1994 in Italy, at a retreat near the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo. Subsequent meetings took place from January 7–14, 1999 in Malta, from December 31, 2000 – January 6, 2001 in Palermo, Sicily, and from August 3–9, 2003 at Oxford University. Additional details about these meetings are available at http://ethel.as.arizona.edu/~white/insap/insap.htm.

Previous conferences provided a variety of stimulating presentations, discussions, and opportunities to engage with astronomically inspired art, but they have also moved towards a more traditional lecture style of presentation.

INSAP V
History of Astronomy Department
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605