Immersed in Uncertainty: Discussing Uncertainty in Science in a Planetarium

Uncertainty is an inherent part of the nature of science (NoS), and its communication is essential to maintain scientific transparency and credibility. Yet, current teaching on the topic is insufficient, leaving many with naïve views of NoS. Following calls to integrate uncertainty as a core component of science education and support NoS instruction with real-world examples, we designed an interactive learning experience conveying uncertainties in planetary science stemming from missing data and using artificial intelligence for a planetarium lecture. We were particularly interested in how interaction in the immersive planetarium settings impacts the audience's engagement with the lecture and, thus, uncertainty in science. The experience was presented to adolescents and adults attending the planetarium, and we collected feedback from 343 participants. Here, we share insights from the development, discuss interactive methods that significantly improved the audience's engagement, and share the participants' perspectives on uncertainty in science. We conclude by examining the pillars of NoS to clarify and define the presence of uncertainty and provide considerations for science communicators and educators.