Vision

Space is often the “spark” that gets people excited about solving problems and designing solutions to carry us into the future. As educators we want to use space as the catalyst driving energy literacy and innovations that will ultimately benefit life on this planet first. Our vision is to utilize their student’s love for space, to inspire them to develop solutions to survive with limited resources in hostile environments, which will ultimately will help life here on Earth. In the face of student “climate anxiety,” we want them to feel empowered by being a part of developing a sustainable future for all.

Action

Through previous projects our students have gained an appreciation for limited energy resources (solar, wind, biofuel) and have been empowered to make small changes. We have grown space gardens, coded automated plant care systems with Micro:bits, and attempted to quantify energy use to develop awareness and alternative energy sources. Next they were challenged to design a net-zero space settlement in the hopes that the knowledge and understanding gained will bring an even greater appreciation for the need – and ability – to do this here on our home planet. Through two intertwined phases of the project, students from two schools will determine energy requirements for daily living, test various methods for offsetting their energy needs and design systems to optimize their energy use.

Reflection & Celebration

It is always a challenge to take on lofty goals that use project-based learning to learn the curriculum while applying it to real-world problems. Doing this during a pandemic is even more work! Here are some videos celebrating our work
ECVS – https://youtu.be/3BAqw8E5tqs
MSS – https://youtu.be/GdSgPEQQrd4

Links