SALUTE TO DR. PAUL H. KNAPPENBERGER
WHEREAS, After 21 years of exceptional service, Paul H. Knappenberger, PhD, is retiring as the head of the Adler Planetarium after successfully completing the most innovative reimagining of the iconic museum that housed the western hemisphere's first astronomical projector; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Knappenberger is a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, and received his Bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1964 from Franklin and Marshall College. He earned a Masters and PhD in astronomy from the University of Virginia, where his research efforts included work in optical interferometry; and
WHEREAS, Prior to his arrival at the Adler in 1991, Dr. Knappenberger founded the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond where he served for 18 years as its director. He taught astronomy at Emory University, Georgia State University, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University; and
WHEREAS, After taking the reigns at the Adler, Dr. Knappenberger developed a research initiative that features PhD scholars working in astronomy, the history of astronomy and, most recently, the study of how people learn about science in informal settings. Such research brought great practical insight about the Adler's audiences. Since 2009, the museum has been a lead partner in the Citizen Science Alliance, a global consortium engaging a large online community of enthusiasts, most of whom have no professional degrees in astronomy, to analyze the vast data sets generated by astronomy researchers throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Knappenberger spearheaded a $40 million expansion that created the Adler's Sky Pavilion that opened in January, 1999. This two-story, 60,000-square-foot facility more than doubled the museum's exhibition space, adding four new galleries, a new museum restaurant and other visitor amenities as well as the world's first full-dome digital planetarium theater; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Dr. Knappenberger sought to inspire the next generation of explorers and move the Adler forward to become the world's leading space science center. It was during this particular fundraising effort that then candidate for president Senator Barack Obama was criticized by his opponent for supporting a 3 million dollar earmark for an "overhead projector" for the Adler; and
WHEREAS, Another major fundraising initiative led by Dr. Knappenberger culminated in the raising of $54 million thanks to the Lift-Off! Campaign for Chicago's Space Center that was chaired by Commonwealth Edison's CEO Frank M. Clark and retired NASA astronaut Captain James A. Lovell, Jr.; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Knappenberger's two major long-range projects along with his prowess as a fundraiser have catapulted the Adler from a traditional planetarium into a 21st century space science center; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Robert W. Fioretti, Alderman of the 2nd Ward, has apprised this august body of the significant milestone and tremendous contribution of this singular civic leader; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City of Chicago City Council, assembled here this 12th day of December, 2012 AD, salute Dr. Paul H. Knappenberger for his monumental contributions to the Adler Planetarium, express our deepest gratitude for all he has accomplished for the visitors to and the citizens of this city and wish him every success in all he endeavors to do in the future.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Dr. Paul H. Knappenberger.