Are you looking for a way to make STEM learning an experience that is out of this world?
World Space Week is a celebration of the innovation in science and technology that has helped humanity explore beyond our planet. Space exploration is a fun topic in STEM for school-aged children. Students who engage in STEM learning can develop an interest in pursuing an engineering career path. Celebrating World Space Week can be an easy way to spark that interest in pre-university students.
What is World Space Week
According to its website, World Space Week (WSW) is several days of celebration marked by two major space-related events. It starts on the 4th of October, recognizing the launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1 in 1957. WSW ends on the 10th of October, which honors the signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies in 1967. In 1999, the UN General Assembly proclaimed World Space Week with resolution 54/68. Some of the goals of WSW include promoting space-themed education and outreach, encouraging public support for space programs, and exciting young people about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). WSW drives over 10,000 space-related events in over 90 countries.
World Space Week 2023: Space and Entrepreneurship
The theme for 2023 is Space and Entrepreneurship. This theme highlights the impact that technological entrepreneurship has on the space exploration industry.
If you are interested in exploring entrepreneurship as an engineer, From Engineering to Entrepreneurship is an article from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) discussing this journey amongst mechanical engineers. Also, this article from Space Foundation is a great read about available pathways when considering entrepreneurship in space exploration. There are several space entrepreneurial options to explore. These could be commercial space technology companies or expanding the utilizing space technology in new ways.
Space and STEM Outreach for School-Aged Children
How can you leverage space exploration to create interest in STEM learning for pre-university aged students? A variety of engineer types allow humanity to pursue space exploration. Aerospace engineers, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers engineers are just a few example. If you want a way for school-aged students to explore what it takes to be an engineer in a space-related field, check out these engineering career profiles such as this one on aerospace engineering. Looking to spark that interest with a STEM activity for school-aged students? Check out these space-themed resources such as this lesson plan that launches a rocket or this aerospace-themed student activity guide including on-demand webinars with engineers in aerospace.