LEARNING OUTCOMES
In addition to completing the protype elements successfully as outlined in the Journey Results and see in the Museum, there were other learning outcomes that were realized.
Participants developed or strengthened their knowledge base and a number of skills:
•Exposed to and did reserach on space science and technology, the conditions on Mars, and the future of science and technology more broadly.
•Hands-on skills were built primarily around 3D modeling, websites, some robotics, and the built environment.
•Soft skills were developed around collaboration, cross-cultural understanding, communication, teamwork, and futures literacy.
•Creative skills like story writing, graphics and design were utilized.
“Participants got hands-on problem-solving skills.” Envoy
Participants developed new mindsets and alternative models to better our societies in the present and work toward desired futures. This was particularly impressive. In doing so they also developed a greater sense of agency.
Along their journeys, participants engaged in a process of divergent and convergent problem and solution exploration which led to deep discussions of ethics, what it means to be human and what the limits of technology should be, economic justice and models, participatory governance, social and legal justice, rights and responsibilties, childhood, conflict resolution, circularity, how well-being is defined, creatives’ rights and expression, the future of food, building cultural understanding and even the process and impact of death.
They identified invidividual verus community needs and where they would benefit from collaboration and sharing of resources across communities. They also investigated the limitations and constraints of living on Mars and in resource scarce environments. In this sense, Mars is a "red sandbox" and metaphor for some of the challenges we will face on earth from the climate and ecological crisis.
Participants were able to link their learning to a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals (3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17).
“I really enjoyed the conversations we had about what our "ideal society" would look like. We got to discuss very interesting issues of how to design an economy that could benefit everyone in it and uphold certain values we chose to focus on.” Youth Participant
“He had to collaborate with peers to create a new environment on mars which forces him to think deeply on various topics like how human society gets formed or where the boundaries lay between human moral and science development.” Parent
In the interest of democratizing space, we saw that in the composition and level of engagement of the teams and participants, that there are enormous possibilities to broaden participation in the sector.
We worked with teams in non-space faring countries and in under-served economic demographics. We were able to expose youth of different backgrounds and interests to many facets of the space sector beyond what is commonly known in popular media and discourse and thus exposed them to different career possibilities.
And they learned about the relevance of space and its applications to their own lives and communities.
We are helping to build a broader base of space advocates and champions from around the world but also integrating views and perspectives that seek to ensure that space exploration proceeds in line with the needs of soceity as whole. The project design and participants themselves emphasize that space exploration is not something done as a Plan B to Earth but rather should support our responsibilites to our planet.
“If we are on Mars in the future, it is because things on Earth have largely been fixed.” Youth Participant.
The evaluation and feedback from youth, envoys, and parents gave the highest ratings, provided insights and suggestions for strengthening the project, and communicated excitment to stay engaged.
“Our futures are together!” Youth participant