United States Space Foundation

NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION PROGRAM INNOVATIVE SPACE, STEM AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP INSPIRED LEARNING: EMPOWERING AN AGILE STEM TALENT POOL

LAUNCHING MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES INTO SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION

THE AIM OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EQUIP EMIRATI HIGH SCHOOLS TEACHERS WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO BUILD AND DESIGN A SPACE CURRICULUM.

THE DISCOVERY CENTER, OPERATED BY THE UNITED STATES SPACE FOUNDATION, WILL PARTNER WITH THE PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT TO IMPLEMENT SMALL STEPS, GIANT LEAP: STEM ADVENTURES FOR LITTLE SPACE EXPLORERS, A FREE EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-6 THAT SEEKS TO ENGAGE THE TARGET AUDIENCE OF LOW-INCOME AND MILITARY FAMILIES, POPULATIONS CURRENTLY UNDERSERVED BY THE DISCOVERY CENTER. THE PROGRAM IS AN INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING EXPERIENCE WITH AN ASSOCIATED HANDS-ON CRAFT THAT OCCURS TWICE MONTHLY, ONCE IN PERSON AND ONCE VIRTUALLY, AND IS DESIGNED TO ENABLE EARLY LEARNERS TO GROW IN LITERACY VIA THE LENSES OF SCIENCE AND SPACE EXPLORATION WHILE DEVELOPING VITAL SOCIAL SKILLS AND SELF-ESTEEM.

WHY WE EXPLORE [THE PROJECT, “WHY WE EXPLORE,” ADDRESS WHAT INSPIRES HUMANS TO EXPLORE, FROM A CULTURAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE.  WITH HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN EXPLORATION NOW REALIZED AND NEW GOALS AND FRONTIERS EMERGING EACH DAY, THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF SPACE EXPLORATION ON OUR DAILY LIVES ARE EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AS THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THAT SUPPORT IT. FURTHER, WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S CHARGE TO REIGNITE AMERICAN’S SPACE LEGACY AND DEVELOP A UNIQUE BRANCH OF THE MILITARY TO PROTECT IT, NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO RECONVENE A DIALOGUE TO ASK, AND MORE ACCURATELY ANSWER THE QUESTION, “WHY DO WE EXPLORE?” THIS PROJECT WILL POSITION THE COUNTRY’S EVER-EVOLVING ATTITUDES TOWARD SPACE AND EXPLORATION, IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, IN THE LARGER CONTEXT OF SIMILAR ATTITUDES VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN A WIDE VARIETY OF CULTURES, WITH THE GOAL OF LAUNCHING A LARGER DIALOGUE ABOUT THE ROLE THAT SPACE EXPLORATION PLAYS IN THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.]