Space educational activities touch on multiple aspects of science, technology and innovation (STI) with a present and future orientation. And space efforts also lead to direct benefits to Earth as outlined by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (like Earth Observation, communication, nutrition, education). Mars is not an alternative to Earth; it is a vehicle to explore humanity, question priorities, and learn to do more with less. Yet it also gives us real science, technology and human variables to consider and experiment with.

Both space exploration and science/speculative fiction spark the imagination and a sense of new possibilities. As we think about living on other planets, or in other future environments including those we may face on Earth, we are able to speculate on what a better version of society might look like, who decides, what assumptions we need to break down, and what we value most. World building also allows for immersive storytelling and creation in which one can explore nuances, the intersections of different disciplines and sectors, and relationships and community building. In being able to engage in ”hopeful imaginaries”, we give youth a space to dream about how they would like society to evolve and create opportunities for them to “stress test” their ideas and compare them against other possible future Earth scenarios. In embracing Futures Thinking, we are also giving them the tools to understand possible and plausible futures and design transitions from where we are now to where theire desired futures.

Through simulation-based learning, the Model United Nations, an over 90 year old youth program (reaching millions of young people around the world) puts students into decision-making positions as they represent the world’s countries, different perspectives and needs, and work toward establishing and implementing global frameworks and goals. Collaborative learning and practice engages young people in cross-cultural dialogue, negotiation and consensus building and global cooperation around pressing issues for the planet and people. Model Mars takes inspiration from this approach while transposing it on Mars in the future and with very different constraints. Most importantly, Model Mars asks participants to take their speculative ideas and apply them to needs on Earth, including achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.