Turning Student Curiosity into Space Research

The Michaelis Foundation for Global Education, in collaboration with its international partners, is advancing the International Journey Spaceflight Experiments Program (IJSEP), bringing together schools, educators, scientists, and students from around the world in a shared mission of space research and discovery.

Through this collaborative effort, students from multiple countries are working together to design, develop, and refine scientific experiments intended for microgravity environments. Guided by experienced mentors and space scientists, participating schools engage in a rigorous, real-world research process that mirrors professional scientific missions.

“For many students, IJSEP is the first time they realize that space science is not something distant or unreachable,” said Jefferson Michaelis, Mission Coordinator at The Michaelis Foundation. “When a student sees their own idea become a real experiment developed with peers around the world and prepared for space, something changes, confidence grows, curiosity turns into purpose, and they begin to see themselves as scientists, engineers, and explorers.”

The IJSEP initiative promotes global cooperation, scientific literacy, and hands-on learning, empowering students not only to study space science, but to actively contribute to it. By connecting classrooms across borders and cultures, the program demonstrates how education and collaboration can unite young minds in pursuit of discovery beyond Earth.

​For more information about IJSEP and how schools can participate, visit: International Journey Spaceflight Experiments Program (IJSEP).