Visit our website, www.stemarts.com to access the annual sci-art design challenge themed “Space for Earth-Space for All”. It is open to northern New Mexico classrooms (student ages 14-20) and STEMarts International partner schools (Escola Secundaria Sebastiao e Silvia, Oeiras, Portugal; San Jose del Valle Preparatoria, Guadalajara; Future Focus 21c, classrooms in Ireland; and Linz, Austria).

The STEMarts website provides step by step guidelines for the design process.

What is the goal and theme of the challenge?

The Space For Earth- Space For All design challenge asks students to submit a design solution informed by one or more of the sustainable development goals outlined in the Space4SDGs, to explore the topic of how space science and technologies can benefit humanity for all citizens, impacting everything from fashion and transportation to agriculture and architecture.

The design challenge platform provides comprehensive resources: a detailed teacher guide, a student design tool, and links to space-related research to facilitate the design process. Students will use their choice of materials for their 2D designs, digitize them using scanning apps, and submit them online along with their design statement. The design should be wildly imaginative yet rooted in science and the SDG vision to bring the benefits of space to humankind.

What exactly are students designing?

Participants in the challenge will submit a drawing and design statement that is an expression of what has inspired them and what they learned about the Space for Earth Space for All topic. Let imaginations fly to create an original and creative design solution. We encourage imaginative impossible futuristic solutions, as well as innovative and practical designs but both must be well rooted in research and science. The final design should be an artistic expression clearly demonstrating that careful thought has been given to addressing one or more of the Space4SDGs to envision how space science and technologies can improve life on Earth for all citizens.

Designs can take many forms, for example: A bio-sensor that connects to satellite forecasts to protect the human body during climate disasters; Fashionable wearables designed from space technologies that address ecological challenges. Or fly further into the future: Research the physics of today such as the LIGO experiment to imagine interstellar vehicles that can navigate gravitational waves.

How can teachers integrate the design challenge in their classrooms?

Teachers can use the tools and resources to create a lesson plan or classroom project around the topic of Space For Earth – Space For All. The Teacher Tools page provides lesson guides, resources to get you started. The design challenge is the last stage of the project where students create a culminating design inspired by the the themes they have been studying to inform their design. The final designs are submitted through our submission platform.

 Students: Jump into the Design Tool to kickstart your creative journey. There you will find the design criteria and a downloadable Student Guide. Teachers: Delve into the Teachers Guide, a comprehensive curriculum supplement crafted to navigate the Design Process effectively.

What is the design process?

The STEMarts Lab creative design process steps include questioning, research, testing, feedback and design. Read through the stages of the Design Tool to understand the design process and explore the resources we provide to help along the way. 

EXPLORE

Explore innovative ideas from artists, designers and engineers working on the cutting edge of technology to inspire the questions that will drive your project. 

RESEARCH

Research the Space4SDG goals to explore possible ideas for your design. Delve into the STEMarts Wiki to discover the science and art behind space through articles, videos and websites. These curated resources will give you examples and ideas to inform your design. Study the Design Criteria and guidelines in the Submit section to understand the criteria that judges will be looking for to evaluate and select the winners.

BRAINSTORM

Start on your design and share with peers and teachers to get feedback to improve your design. Write a design statement that describes your design; What it is and how it works, how it addresses the Space4SDG, what is the research-based science/technology behind the work, how the design benefits earth for all citizens, and anything else that makes it unique.

DESIGN

Create your final design in whatever medium you like. The final submission should be a two dimensional image with a clear and defined representation of your design against a white or transparent background. 

SHARE

The final stage is to submit your drawing and design statement electronically here on this platform following the submission guidelines. Review the design criteria to be sure you are meeting all the requirements. Submit your design statement as a one page PDF and the final design as a JPG.

Application Requirements

Teachers and students:

Please register in the Google registration form: https://forms.gle/k3hh8noxKsnXG5qr5

Teachers:

• Keep in mind, since you are the account holder the application will automatically display your school name as the artist. Please fill out the "Form Question" section to add the student project names so that we have the correct student name associated with each entry. Design statements must be copy pasted under the form question called Artist Statement for jurors to review. 
• Images (jpeg) for student projects should be uploaded to the My Portfolio section of the application.
• Each teacher will have the ability to submit multiple project applications per account. Schools submitting more than 20 applications will need to create more than one Artist account. You can submit 1 student project per application. Once you have submitted your first application you can go to your Prospectus/Call Details page to start your second project application.
• Please email us if any of this is not clear and you need us to walk you through it: stemartslab@gmail.com

Eligibility Criteria

The STEMarts International Design Challenge is open to:

Student ages 14-20

Northern New Mexico classrooms including Albuquerque

Partner Schools (see website)