Cities in Space® Student Competition

CITIES IN SPACE™
STUDENT COMPETITION

Experience Cities in Space 2018

ABOUT THE COMPETITION AND CONFERENCE

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In the classroom right now are the innovators, scientists, artists, settlers and pioneers of new worlds!

The Cities in Space™ Competition is a global STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) competition all about creating a sustainable settlement which enables the human race to survive and thrive into a new civilization in space.

Such an endeavor takes great planning and innovation and it is our current population of students who will be creating, living and thriving in these colonies.

Students come together to debate, present and learn from one another. When they are not presenting, competing students have the opportunity to listen to speakers during the conference as well as meet scientists, engineers, NASA experts, new space leaders, and astronauts!

Student teams integrate engineering, science, architecture, art and their own innovation in the creation of colony prototypes through video and 3-dimensional modeling and essay and outline presentations for Cities in Space™. Colonies are based upon settling a human population of 1,000 people with the understanding that this colony is planning on great success and human growth.

Choices of location for settlements can include free space, the moon, Mars or any other extraterrestrial body.

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Students are supported through mentorship as well as a scholarship program for low resource and minority schools. Student teams research data for their chosen settlement location as well as research their designated requirements through a required written body of work. Teams present their collaborative project and discuss their chosen challenges for their settlement and how they will achieve long-term multi-generational success of their colony. Some examples of these chosen challenges include: how to grow food, manufacture of goods and textiles, gathering of energy; creating a 100% recyclable community. Other issues regarding how to create and sustain a rich civilization in the new frontier such as the arts, education, history, and sports are choices for presentations.

Overview of the Cities in Space™ Student Competition and Conference

By creating your team and integrating engineering, art, architecture, and science you will create your own model of your planetary colony.

Lunch is included for Student Teams, Lead Teachers, and registered chaperones.

  • Suggested Team Size: approximately 10-12 students, however, this is only a recommendation and team size is up to the discretion of the supervising teacher(s). Schools may register more than one team.
  • You may choose between 3 choices for location: An extra-terrestrial body, the Moon or free space. Colonies are based upon the settling human population of 1,000 people with the understanding that this colony is planning on successful sustainability and human growth.
  • There are 4 categories for a project: 3D Model, Video, 3d Model with Video, and Emerging Technology prototyping. As you choose your location please research the environment, the requirements and data for your chosen location and incorporate the appropriate challenges your colony will face in your model or video.
  • Specifics:

Emerging Technology Category

Students who are interested in creating teams focused on innovative technology supporting off-world colonization, including robotics, are invited to complete and complement our colony designers. Without our young innovators and inventors, off world settlement cannot thrive. Be it a specialized space suit for a Lunar mining colony or a Martian garden below the surface, these ideas must be supported and presented for our future pioneers to imagine into.

This section will have the same requirements and options as our colony designers. Students may choose to do video, 3D model or both along with a required, written component. Please simply check the Emerging Technology Category on the registration page. Awards will be given for 1st and 2nd place in this category.

Work Requirements

High School: In addition to the colony model students must present a written work with a minimum 10 pages double spaced, which describes the project, the specifications and requirements of their chosen location and what issues they chose to dedicate their time to solving for long-term success of a colony. Some examples of this could be how to grow food, manufacturing of goods and textiles, energy and creating a 100% recyclable community. Other issues could be how to create and sustain a rich civilization in the new frontier such as the arts, education and sports.

Middle School 5 – 8 Grade: In addition to the colony model students must present a written work with a minimum 6 pages double spaced, which describes the project, the specifications and requirements of their chosen location and what issues they chose to dedicate their time to solving for long-term success of a colony. Some examples of this could be how to grow food, manufacturing of goods and textiles, energy and creating a 100% recyclable community. Other issues could be how to create and sustain a rich civilization in the new frontier such as the arts, education and sports.

Useful Resources

Planning with Your Team Starter Guide: Guidelines to help plan your team for the Cities in Space Competition and suggestions for how to get started with the project:

Planning With Your Team

Database of Technical Resources: A few useful resources and contact information to help inform teams on the technical aspects of this project. These resources are intended to give a basic start, teams will need to do their own research:

Cities In Space™ Competition Resource List

Additional Information

Students are required to sign off under the supervising teacher of their school. This teacher will oversee the project and help the team progress along the way. STEAMSPACE Education Outreach believes in equal opportunity for all and may offer some financial assistance for lower resource schools upon request. This request is available on the registration page.

Students are encouraged to bring their models and videos to the conference for display and presentation. There is an Open Forum presentation section of the conference for students to share their work and answer questions.

Plan for a 10 minute presentation time as students and judges will have free movement during this period.

There will be two designated Open Forums during the day for students to be audience and then presenter.

If a team is not able to participate at the conference, prior arrangement for set up can be made for 3D model as well as video and may be delivered for presentation a week prior to the conference.

Supervising teachers are expected to attend the conference with their team as well as be their support during the presentation period of the conference.

Supervising teachers are responsible for the behavior and participation of their team.

Student teams are judged by a moving panel of educators, scientists and entrepreneurs in the Space Industry.

Awards are given in three different categories: 3D Model; Video; 3D Model with Video and are given at Middle School and High School Divisions.Honorable Mention is recognized.

Winners of the competition are presented awards and will then present on stage at the closing of Cities in Space to all students and attendees.