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SDC initiative recognizes teamwork and commitment of students and teachers  Looking at each other in order to contribute to social well-being. This is the main proposal of the Science Days Challenge, which encourages students around the world to think of creative ideas to solve problems in their community.
On Monday (2), the results of the winners of the Science Days Challenge were released. On the podium, only the first three placed in the following categories: elementary school, middle school and high school. However, the reality is different: we have 37 winning teams. According to former NASA member Mike Lester, the traditional way of teaching is no longer enough to attract the attention of young people. Thus, the SDC initiative uses an alternative form of study by bringing the proposal to instigate young people's interest in science, technology, engineering arts and mathematics through space education. “Space seems to have a universal fascination”, revealed Mr. Lester who stated that, by generating curiosity, the subject facilitates the process of learning. In the reality of social isolation, maintaining focus and determination was the greatest challenge. Despite the insecurities generated by the pandemic situation, hundreds of participants of the Science Days Challenge turned to collective well-being, with the proposal to build a better world. With a common goal, students and teachers came together to bring innovative ideas to life, each one with its own special characteristics. In recognition of this altruistic act and the commitment of all groups to finish their projects and deliver all the materials within the time determined by the event, in 2021 all teams will be awarded at Science Days global event. With the right to special award and being called on stage, every student will be honored, regardless of whether they were among the top three in the SDC categories or not. “You are all winners”, said SDUSA president Mike Lester, referring to the event´s participants. Under Lester´s management and the active support of the Michaelis Foundation and KSCIA, in 2021 SDC will have the participation of several schools around the world. The special acknowledgement of the Most Inspirational Project, Best Presentation Award, SDC Double Award and Global Positive Impact Award will take place later this month.
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 InnovaSpace in England is actively contributing to the Science Days 2020 event that is happening simultaneously in the United States and in Jundiai, SP, Brazil.
The project is part of the global space outreach initiatives of the Michaelis Foundation, an InnovaSpace partner.
The Michaelis Foundation for Global Education is proud to announce a partnership with InnovaSpace (Innovaspace.org), located in London, United Kingdom.
The two organizations will collaborate in the development of space outreach activities. InnovaSpace Kids2Mars project will join the Science Days initiative of the Foundation, with the aim of promoting STEM and Space educational undertakings globally.  Hopefully, this message will be uplifting for all of you in these challenging times
From the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Michaelis Foundation has expanded its educational virtual programs in response to the original and continually evolving demands for more remote online activities for children and families across the globe. The Michaelis Foundation has already produced one online virtual conference with 150+ participants and prepared two hands on activities for 3,500 kids. We are committed to sharing our expertise, energy, and programs to address the issues of the global social isolation by nurturing adaptability and providing quality Space & STEAM education activities to support individual resiliency. Together with our global partners, we have been able to use our skills, creativity, and ingenuity to collectively solve educational challenges. All the best, The Michaelis Foundation Team  For the fourth year, The Michaelis Foundation is collaborating with SEE (Simulation Exploration Experience). See is an international, student based, space exploration simulation initiative, applying commercial off the shelf (COTS) software tools to generate 3D models and simulations of space exploration activities. 14 Students teams from all over the world - from the US, Canada, Brazil, Bulgaria, Germany, Britain, France and Italy, others are cooperating in the virtual conquest of space.
The Simulation Exploration Experience (SEE) joins students, industry, professional associations, and faculty together for an annual modeling and simulation (M&S) challenge. SEE champions collaborative collegiate-level modeling and simulation by providing a venue for students to work in highly dispersed inter-university teams to design, develop, test, and execute simulated missions associated with space exploration. Participating teams gain valuable knowledge, skills, and increased employability by working closely with industry professionals, NASA, and faculty advisors. This year, SEE will take place remotely and onsite in Brazil, April 25th-May 2nd for the performance by the SEE 2019 teams - representing 15 universities from 5 continents, across 11 time zones – of the simulated Space mission on both the Moon and Mars on which they collaborate. Participants include universities from Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina-Faso, Germany, Italy, France, Pakistan, United Kingdom and USA. The workshop events will include the Review of the Experience of SEE on April 25-26th - both remotely and in Brazil, and will be held at FACENS University in the city of Sorocaba. The Viera High School, KSCIA and The Michaelis Foundation hosted the "STEM Night Meeting With Space Experts" event on October 23rd to inspire local and international students to consider taking up STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – subjects in school.
Students had the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with two guest speakers who are working in the space program. During the presentation students learned about the International Space Station and some of the innovative experiments that are being conducted on the ISS. The Michaelis Foundation has invested years developing programs that build bridges between the United States and the world. We are honored to be co-hosting this amazing program and welcoming students and educators from all over the world to the Space Coast to experience first-hand leadership in international space education that our country has to offer," says Jefferson Michaelis, Space Educator of The Michaelis Foundation. "The experience and expertise that The Michaelis Foundation brings to the world is very much needed in the time we live in today," said Jose Carlos Filho (JC) head of the International Space Cooperation (ISC) for KSCIA International Space Academy (KSCIA). "Working with students who think and feel differently from us, who come from different cultures is a life changing experience." We not only guide young students to learn mathematics science, but we also actively promote compound education in space, with new PBL experiments, science and technology, and promote cooperation to different ethnic groups, so that the whole society gains on this global cooperation and harmony among various countries says Carla Michaelis project manager of The Michaelis Foundation. Special thanks to Mr. Michael Gisande and Janicce Harp.  The International Space Camp Journey To Mars was launched in August 2019 and already inspired hundreds of children and young adults to better understand the wonders of space and our universe. The program is based on an international alliance of cooperation for global space education and offers participants a chance to learn about innovative experiences of the space agencies.
The Space Camp Journey to Mars, created by the Michaelis Foundation, is a combination of hands on and PBL Space and STEM experiences celebrating the man's journey to Mars that is truly inspiring hundreds of young minds to pursue STEM education and careers. The Journey To Mars featured the giant Mars exploration map - a huge map that reproduces the Martian terrain in details. During the Space Camp, children had an opportunity to build and launch very cool stomp rockets, explored the wonders of the red planet and, with the help of an app, interacted with NASA rovers - space exploration vehicles - in augmented reality. Professor Füchter, who lectured at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) on the theme: “Augmented Reality for Technical Training” to NASA engineers by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), demonstrated to young people the augmented reality experiences during the Exploration Tour called Journey to Mars. Hundreds of young people also had the opportunity to participate in a special activity called surviving on Mars, where they used similar geopositioning coordinates that NASA uses to explore Mars terrain. Also used in the workshop occupying Mars, 8- to 12-year-old kids learned about Mars habitat and its structural requirements. Additionally, kids tested their own designs to develop their future homes on Mars, and thus learned how astronauts in the near future will inhabit Mars. All these amazing experiences bring new perspectives on science. According to the student Gabrielle Mendonça "It was very exciting and motivating, exceeding all my expectations. Glad I went to the space camp. I'm sure it will open many doors and I am now available to contribute with this project. I'm certain that my participation will bring me closer to my dream of going one day to Space. This was just a start point in my life, because my dream goes much further when I see Earth through space into the unknown” said Gabrielle. “I am teaching the Mars generation,” says Space Camp instructor Amanda Cirne, “These students will be the astronauts, engineers, scientists and project managers that will lead to human exploration of Mars and beyond. Plus, the current space missions provided a tremendous hook to help connect STEM content with real-world application. Science becomes real and exciting.” The public is welcome Saturday July 20th to come and talk to the space workers who played a part in Apollo 11--and toast the Moon landing--as the American Space Museum plans a special day of activities for the whole family.
“Meet Apollo Space Workers Who Did It!” will feature a panel discussion by three special NASA workers from 10:30 am-noon; informal interaction all day with many other Apollo-era NASA contractors; hands-on STEAM and straw rockets for kids; an afternoon science demonstration; and a “Tang Toast” at 4:18 pm--the moment the Eagle Lunar Module touched down on the Moon. The non-profit museum will also have docents at the site of the Apollo Monument and life-size statue of President John F. Kennedy at Space View Park in Downtown Tittusville to explain the lunar voyage. The NASA Apollo workers, who will share some of their memorabilia from the Moon Race, include: Bob Pearson, NASA engineer who was an instructor on the Lunar Module simulator at Kennedy Space Center and taught all the Apollo astronauts how to land on the Moon; Hazel (Sekac) Banks, NASA clerk/stenographer to the astronauts, interacting with them professionally--and sometimes on the softball field! Ike Rigel, NASA engineering legend and World War II Pacific Rim veteran, who, at age 96, will be signing his book about his long life titled, “Ike,” with proceeds donated to the museum. There will also be many other Apollo-era space workers at the museum throughout to day to share their stories one-on-one and explain some of the artifacts on display from the 20th Century Space Age. Everyone in attendance will be given a commemorative coin of Apollo 11, and ASM will promote a $5 discount for individual and family annual memberships. The Saturday event is partnered with the Titusville Downtown Merchants Association and the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce promotion of Apollo 11 Moon landing with a Tang toast at 4:18 pm, occurring at other retail locations around Titusville. Special participants at the ASM celebration of Apollo 11 will be: Emile Buehler Planetarium, Michaelis Foundation, Sidewalk Science Center and Brevard Astronomical Association.  There are many exciting and lucrative careers in STEM fields, and women working in those fields like Dr. Nahid Mohajeri are inspiring the next generation of powerful females working in science, technology, engineering and math.
Dr. Nahid Mohajeri is the Advanced Polymer Technology General Manager at Nitto, Inc. Prior to joining Nitto, Dr. Mohajeri was the CEO of HySense Technologies LLC., the company which she founded with a mission of developing/marketing a chemochromic hydrogen detection tape developed by scientists at NASA-KSC and University of Central Florida. She is the inventor/co-inventor of 12 patents and author/co-author of greater than 50 publications. Hundreds of young girls from various schools attended Dr. Nahid's presentation during Science Days hosted at FACENS University. "I really love to see so many girls come out from all over the state to feel empowered by Dr. Nahid," said Julia, a senior at Santa Rosalia COC High School who plans to pursue a career in Science. She attended the International Journey of Science & Technology last year and volunteered to be Dr. Nahid's translator this year. Paula Gonsalvez, a senior at Sorocaba High School, said she enjoyed Science Days experience, an opportunity where the students can talk with real STEM professionals and take part in a variety of very cool experiments. "I really loved the vibe that Dr. Nahid brings to all of these girls and it really just makes you think ‘Wow, I really can pursue a STEM, career and be successful'" Paula said. "Expanding the number of women in STEM fields has benefits far broader than diversity. It drives the bottom line revenue, profit and success of organizations across the world," Carla Cristian, Science Days project coordinator, said in a statement.  Mike Conroy, with the Florida Space Institute (FSI), joined the Michaelis Foundation for Global Education to bring STEM/STEAM inspiration to Brazilian students and families.
Science Days included the soft opening at the Sorocaba Engineering School, (FACENS), in Sorocaba, a visit to a local High School, a 2-day event in Rio de Janeiro and six more Science Days throughout Brazil. The FACENS trip enabled talks with university leadership (Dean, International Relations, Research), faculty (predominantly Engineering) and students while the “soft” opening included over 1,000 students from area middle and high schools. FACENS expressed desires to: partner with UCF, exchange students, exchange projects, team on projects and host guest lectures. An evening lecture on complex design drew over 200 attendees. Interest exists in FSI’s Senior Design approach with a desire to have FACENS student teams work on FSI projects as well as to replicate the program at FACENS. Read full article: fsi.ucf.edu/2019/05/13/brazil-science-days/ |
Michaelis in actionWe work with partner organizations worldwide to tackle critical challenges in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Archives
November 2020
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