Space Foundation STEM Activities Celebrate World Space Week

"Remote Sensing -- Enabling our Future" is the theme for World Space Week 2016, held annually October 4-10. The Space Foundation is a proud sponsor of World Space Week, and will offer activities celebrating achievements in space and in support of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

On Oct. 5, the Space Foundation will invite classes from its Teacher Liaison program to the U.S. Air Force Academy during World Space Week for a special presentation with Erin Macdonald, Ph.D., Systems Engineer with Stellar Solutions, Inc. Dr. Macdonald (pictured) is also a space science lecturer who is passionate about giving talks around the world on the intersection of science and science fiction. She is currently the Education Manager for World Space Week. Her background is in gravitational waves and general relativity and includes education at museums and community colleges.

Her inspiring presentation will be of special interest to girls who like to hear about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

At the Discovery Center

The Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs is a space, science and technology attraction, open to the public year-round and a destination for STEM-based school field trips. For World Space Week, the Discovery Center has prepared a special exhibit that explores remote sensing -- what it is, how it is used, how it is changing what we know about our planet and solar system and how it is enabling exploration and problem solving for the future.

On Oct. 5, the monthly Homeschool Day at the Discovery Center will offer activities centered around the World Space Week theme of remote sensing.

Learn more about the Discovery Center here.

Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame Gala
Honoring the past, inspiring the future.

The last Space Foundation event to wrap up World Space Week, will be the new Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame Gala on Oct. 7, an event that celebrates Colorado's contributions to space while raising money for STEM education for the next generation of space leaders.

The honorees are:

• General James V. Hartinger, USAF (Ret.), for his work as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command, Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and as the first Commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command
• Ronald M. Sega, Ph.D., for his work as a NASA astronaut; Professor and Director, Systems Engineering Programs, Colorado State University; Director of Defense Research & Engineering; and leadership in the U.S. Air Force Reserve (retired Major General)
• Alan Stern, Ph.D., for leading NASA's New Horizons mission to the Pluto system and the Kuiper Belt, his work as a planetary scientist, space program executive, aerospace consultant and author; named to the Time 100 in 2007 and 2016
• The Honorable Peter B. Teets, for his work on space programs at Martin Marietta; for his leadership as President of Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace, and President of Martin Marietta Space Group; his global industry leadership as President and Chief Operating Officer of Lockheed Martin Corp.; and his service as 13th Director of the National Reconnaissance Office and Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force

Learn more about the Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame by visiting the website here.

This article is part of Space Watch: October 2016 (Volume: 15, Issue: 10).