NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AEROSPACE, ROCKET21 AND NASA INVITE GEN Z YOUTH TO HELP IN PLANNING THE JOURNEY TO MARS
Hampton, VA, The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Rocket21 today announced the final phase of Journey to Mars Voices Challenge, a series of innovative activities and competitions designed to engage middle and high school youth in learning about and helping to solve challenges that must be overcome to make the Journey to Mars a reality.
After learning about NASA’s plans for the Journey to Mars and the obstacles that must be overcome to make this journey, middle and high school students are invited to share ideas and solutions to the challenges that will be faced in this monumental journey.
Participating students complete several milestone challenges, including the submission of an original script and a 90-second podcast in response to the Challenge topics
“Generation Z youth will be the planet’s FIRST to witness human spaceflight to Mars, and we are delighted to provide an opportunity for these students to have a voice in planning the Journey to Mars,†noted Harla Sherwood, NIA Director Communications and Partnerships.
Two students will be selected as National Grand Prize Winners, representing Gen Z Youth at the 2016 USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. Twelve National Finalists will be invited to share their final podcasts on Innovation Now, a broadcast and online radio program (www.innovationnow.us), reaching approximately 10.5 million listeners daily.
In addition, more than one hundred prizes including merchandise and cash prizes will be awarded throughout the project, as a result of ten MARS Monday Drawings. To date, 70 students from 14 states (including California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia) have been awarded with MARS Monday prizes.
“The opportunity to bring this set of rich opportunities for students to engage in real-world problem solving with world-class experts is a strategic bullseye against our mission to help students THINK BIG. DO MORE,†added Jodell Seagrave, President & COO Rocket21.
Final submissions must be received by February 29, 2016.
For more information about the Journey to Mars VOICES Challenge, visit http://rocket21.com/journeytomarschallenge
To find NASA resources to complement the challenge, including hands-on activities, educator professional development opportunities, and videos about NASA’s Journey to Mars, visit http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/education
For more information about the National Institute of Aerospace, visit:
www.NIAnet.org