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

  • Abstract tech network data connections with orange, blue glowing dots, lines

    3 Trends for Higher Education to Stay Ahead of in 2026

    As universities enter the new year, the question is no longer whether digital transformation is necessary, but how quickly institutions can convert technological potential into strategic advantage.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.