Spotlight


New Certified Educational Partner Added

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New Certified Educational Partner Added The Space Foundation welcomes the We Want Our Future initiative as its newest Certified Educational Product partner. Launched and managed by University of Colorado graduate students and based in Boulder, Colo., the We Want Our Future initiative is a worldwide outreach project that challenges students to dream about what they want their future to look like – specifically with respect to space. This project, which exclusively promotes space exploration as a generational priority, is a “for students, by students” initiative that calls attention to the necessity of space in our collective future. The initiative combines art and creativity with science and technology in an effort to inspire future STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) leaders and increase overall space and technology literacy among the planet’s youth.

We Want Our Future is a grassroots program that works with teachers, students, authors, producers and astronauts to develop and distribute outreach materials that challenge and motivate young children to dream about and have the courage to work towards their futures.

The materials, which include an introduction letter from former NASA astronaut Joe Tanner and a short, inspirational video highlighting the benefits of exploration, are distributed free via www.wewantourfuture.org.

Students participating in the program are asked to imagine future space-related careers where science, technology, engineering and math are important, and to express their ideas through postcard drawings and short written explanations of why that future is important and inspiring. The drawings are then sent to We Want Our Future, which uses them to promote continued space exploration.

“This program has grown and expanded in ways we never could have imagined when it was created,” said We Want Our Future Executive Director Bradley Cheetham. “We have amazing submissions from students across the planet depicting an exciting future of space exploration.”

“In reviewing student submissions, volunteers often find themselves inspired by the unfettered dreams of today’s students; it really shows that many students are hungry for the opportunity to dream and be creative,” said Director of Operations Matthew Cannella.

Cheetham and Cannella are both pursuing Ph.D.s in aerospace engineering sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. Currently, 13 other students from around the country are involved with the management of the program.

About Certified Educational Products
Certified Educational Products are selected by the Space Foundation and identified as those used in educational environments to stimulate interest and knowledge about space. Education is key to the mission of the Space Foundation and supporting these products inspires each new generation.

Space Foundation Certified Educational Products include:

For more information, go to www.SpaceConnection.org.
 

This article is part of Space Watch: July 2011 (Volume: 10, Issue: 7).


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