Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Space Center Houston Earns U.S. State Department Grant to Teach Global Sustainability

  • 09/17/15

Houston – The nonprofit Space Center Houston has earned a prestigious U.S. Department of State grant that will unite it with two other science centers in France and Singapore in a collaborative global education project.

The Museums Connect grant funds a future-looking six-month initiative focused on teaching youth about space science, technology and global citizenship. The collaborative effort will draw teens from the three countries to work together to solve real-world problems in a fun cultural exchange.

“This partnership is a part of the center’s long-term objectives to partner with other leading science centers on cross-cultural projects,” said Kim Parker, director of development for the nonprofit. “We are excited to teach the next generation of explorers about working together to solve global problems.”

Space Center Houston, the Science Centre Singapore and Cité de l'espace in France will engage students and teachers to explore new learning and teaching practices focused on building a sustainable Mars community. Selected participants will attend online courses and then travel to each center for hands-on training.

The program will culminate at Space Center Houston’s Mars Trekker Global Teen Summit. The international summit will welcome students from across the world. Teens will learn new skills for the 21st century with fun, hands-on activities. Topics to be explored in the summit include clean water, renewable energy and the nutrition needed to develop a sustainable community on the red planet.

Students will participate in interactive workshops and hear from NASA scientists and engineers, all aimed at inspiring students to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Participants will enjoy many social aspects including concerts, live shows and other entertainment in Space Center Houston’s simulated Mars Yard.

Museums Connect is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs that is administered by the American Alliance of Museums.

Space Center Houston welcomes more than 100,000 educators and students annually from around the world to its educational programs. For more information on Space Center Houston, visit spacecenter.org.

Featured

  • Chicago District Completes Construction on New Elementary School

    North Chicago School District 187 in North Chicago, Ill., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Forrestal Elementary School, according to a news release. The new school marks a major investment in military-connected students and families at Naval Station Great Lakes.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • How Proactive Maintenance Can Transform Athletic Facilities into Strategic Assets for College Sports

    College athletics is entering one of the most transformative periods in its history. With NIL reshaping financial models and competitive expectations, athletic departments across the country are being asked to do more than ever with increasingly constrained resources.

  • Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.