The Mars Generation

The Mars Generation is an American internationally active, non-governmental nonprofit organization involved in public outreach and advocating for human space exploration and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

The Mars Generation
AbbreviationTMG
FormationJanuary 1, 2015 (2015-01-01)
FounderAbigail Harrison "Astronaut Abby"
TypeNGO Nonprofit corporation 501(c)(3)
Legal statusThe Mars Generation is a "public charity" and is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions
PurposeSTEM education and space advocacy for human mission to Mars
HeadquartersMinneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Key people
Board of Directors:
  • Abigail Harrison (President)
  • Gordon Russell (Treasurer), Orbital ATK
  • Yvonne Hundshamer (Secretary)
  • Nicole Harrison (Vice President)

Advisory Board:

Student Space Ambassador Program Advisory Board:

  • Ken Buckler (Chair)
  • Morgan Irons (Vice Chair)
  • Nicole Chase (Director of SSA)
Websitethemarsgeneration.org

The mission of The Mars Generation is to educate and inspire people of all ages about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and human space exploration and the importance of space and STEM to the future of humankind.[1][2] The Mars Generation is volunteer-driven by executive and advisory boards with leaders from the space industry including astronauts, engineers and scientists as well as nonprofit, education and business sectors.since its founding in 2015.[3][4]

In June 2017, The Mars Generation[5] was recognized with a business innovation award for their use of technology to build the organization and its programs.[6] This unique approach to creating a nonprofit is credited to the organization's founder and leader Abigail Harrison leveraging her own internet personality as Astronaut Abby to grow the organization. As of August 2017, The Mars Generation and Astronaut Abby have over one million followers of their combined social media channels and have reached an estimated 25 million.

History

The Mars Generation was founded in 2015 by 18-year-old Abigail Harrison, popularly known as "Astronaut Abby" and has the support of high-level advisory board members which includes astronauts, engineers and scientists as well as nonprofit, education and business professionals.[7][8]

Harrison started STEM and space advocacy work at the age of 13 by initially setting up a Twitter account under her childhood nickname "Astronaut Abby." She used her @AstronautAbby[9] Twitter account to connect with NASA employees to try and procure a quote for her National History Day project.[10] Her account biography stated that she was aspiring to be an astronaut and had a goal to be the first person to set foot on Mars. After she received the NASA quote, she began to share her journey to Mars which included tweets about space events, school and her personal life with the goal of not only exciting people about mars exploration but creating advocates for human space exploration.[11]

In May 2013, at 15 years old, Harrison partnered with her mentor, Astronaut Luca Parmitano as his Earth Liaison and shared his experience living in space on the International Space Station during Expedition 36 and Expedition 37.[12] Harrison set up an international outreach program consisting of classroom web chats, an email pen pal program, classroom visits, blogging on AstronautAbby.com, writing for other publications, speaking at events, and sharing on social media.[13] Initially called the Soyuz Adventure, after Astronaut Parmitano returned to Earth, it was renamed "The Future of Space" and Harrison continued to run the program.[14][15] This program was the basis for the development of The Mars Generation nonprofit in 2015.[16][17]

Programs

Core programs

The Mars Generation offers 3 core programs that are focused on helping the organization reach its mission of exciting and educating people of all ages about STEM education and human space exploration.[18][19]

The Future of Space Outreach Program

The Future of Space Outreach program excites and educates people of all ages about human space exploration as well as STEM education and encourages the support of space exploration and STEM education.[20][21][22]

Student Space Ambassador Leadership Program

The Student Space Ambassador Leadership Program (SSA) is a dual program in mentorship and leadership designed to provide school and career guidance to students ages 13–24.[23] The program also provides encouragement for students to share their passion and excitement about space exploration and STEM education as ambassadors within their communities.[24][25]

Space Camp Scholarship Program

This program provides full paid scholarships to include transportation, flight suits and a small spending stipend for students demonstrating financial need to attend U.S. Space Camp.[26][27] In order to apply for consideration students need to be age 15–17, demonstrate interest in space exploration and an aptitude in STEM and complete the application, including obtaining a recommendation from a teacher and/or mentor.[28][29]

Additional programs and initiatives

24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators In STEAM and Space Awards

In March 2017, The Mars Generation announced the launch of the 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators In STEAM and Space Awards, a program designed to recognize and encourage students and young adults who are making a significant impact in the world through space and/or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).[30][31][32]

Train Like A Martian Challenge

The Train Like A Martian Challenge is an annual event sponsored by The Mars Generation that raises awareness about human space exploration and STEM education while encouraging people of all ages to become more physically active. The event challenges participants to participate in a daily activity and share videos and photos of the activity on social media channels using the #TrainLikeAMartian hashtag.[33]

Membership program

In 2016, The Mars Generation launched its membership program providing a way for people to support the organization while receiving perks that are only available to members. These membership perks include invitations to special events, discounts, updates and offers.[34][35]

Partnerships and engagements

Partnerships

The Mars Generation has several strategic partnerships with organizations to help promote advocacy and excitement for STEM and space exploration.

Team America Rocketry Challenge

An outreach partnership was formed in 2016 between The Mars Generation and the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC), a nationwide American model rocketry competition that is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry.[36][37][38]

Explore Mars

In 2016 an outreach partnership was formed with Explore Mars the organization that hosts the annual Humans to Mars Summit, a leading Mars advocacy and information conference.[39][40][41]

National Geographic Kids

An outreach partnership was formed in 2017 between The Mars Generation and National Geographic Kids to promote STEAM awareness through their Guinness World Records rocket project.[42][43][44]

Engagements

As an international outreach organization, The Mars Generation has been invited to attend multiple engagements to talk about the nonprofit and outreach work they do to excite and educate people about space exploration and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.[45]

TEDx Snowlibaries

(2015) – The Mars Generation Advisory board member, Astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger gave a TEDx talk titled "The Mars Generation" where she shared her own journey to becoming an astronaut, the past and present of human spaceflight|human space exploration and how The Mars Generation nonprofit is playing a role in the future of human spaceflight|human space exploration.[46][47]

Humans to Mars Summit

(2016 & 2017) – The Mars Generation founder Abigail Harrison represented The Mars Generation as a speaker for the 2016 and 2017 Humans to Mars Summit hosted by Explore Mars in Washington D.C. [48][49][50][51]

Project Space Forum

(2017) – The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates invited The Mars Generation founder Abigail Harrison to tour their space agency and speak at their Project Space forum as an representative of The Mars Generation and an international space ambassador[52][53][54][55]

STEM in 30 show

(2017) – The Mars Generation founder, Abigail Harrison represented The Mars Generation as a guest on the live broadcast of the STEM in 30 show produced by National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and sponsored by NASA. The show is geared towards elementary and middle school classrooms.[56][57][58][59]

Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center Complex

(2017) – As part of the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center Summer Of Mars Initiative The Mars Generation founder Abigail Harrison appeared to speak and for a photo opportunity to represent the nonprofit.[60][61]

gollark: Rednet is a dumb™ protocol on top of modems.
gollark: WRONG!
gollark: The new version runs over skynet.
gollark: Old PotatoNET ran over *modems*, not rednet.
gollark: Nor does potatoNet, which is a different thing.

References
  1. "Meet Abby Harrison, the college sophomore headed for Mars". USA TODAY College. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  2. "The Mars Generation – GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  3. "Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars". Space.com. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  4. TEGNA. "Kids who KARE: Astronaut Abby". KARE. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  5. "The Mars Generation". The Mars Generation. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  6. "2017 Eureka! Innovation award winner: The Mars Generation". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  7. "Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars". Space.com. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  8. "Meet Abby Harrison, the college sophomore headed for Mars". USA TODAY College. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  9. "Abigail Harrison (@AstronautAbby) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  10. "NASA – Astronaut Abby Hearts NASA". www.nasa.gov. Flint Wild : MSFC, Shelley Canright : HQ, Diedra Williams : MSFC, Cindy McArthur : JSC, Rachel Kraft : JSC, Ann Marie Trotta : HQ, Nicole Harrison : POC, Abby Harrison : POC. Retrieved 2017-08-13.CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. "NASA – Astronaut Abby Hearts NASA". www.nasa.gov. Flint Wild : MSFC, Shelley Canright : HQ, Diedra Williams : MSFC, Cindy McArthur : JSC, Rachel Kraft : JSC, Ann Marie Trotta : HQ, Nicole Harrison : POC, Abby Harrison : POC. Retrieved 2017-08-13.CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. "Why An Astronaut Asked 15 Year Old Abby to Help Get The Word Out – Universe Today". Universe Today. 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  13. "CurioCity – CurioCité | Astronaut Abby". explorecuriocity.org. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  14. "'Astronaut Abby' is crowdfunding her way to outer space". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  15. "#029 – Mission to Mars with Astronaut Abby – SkepticLab". SkepticLab. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  16. "Meet Abby Harrison, the college sophomore headed for Mars". USA TODAY College. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  17. "Mars and the Public Imagination". PCMag Asia. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  18. "Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars". Space.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  19. "https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/06/20/2017-eureka-innovation-award-winner-the-mars.html". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14. External link in |title= (help)
  20. "Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars". Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  21. "2017 Eureka! Innovation award winner: The Mars Generation". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  22. "Mars and the Public Imagination". PCMAG. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  23. "Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars". Space.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  24. "Meet Abby Harrison, the college sophomore headed for Mars". USA TODAY College. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  25. "Mars and the Public Imagination". PCMAG. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  26. "Meet Abby Harrison, the college sophomore headed for Mars". USA TODAY College. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  27. "Mars and the Public Imagination". PCMAG. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  28. "The Mars Generation – GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  29. "Kids who KARE: Astronaut Abby". KARE. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  30. "Live in L.A. with "Mars Generation" Abigail Harrison & Musician Clare Means". BlogTalkRadio. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  31. "The Mars Generation Launches 24 Under 24: Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Annual Awards Program | Moroccan News Update". Moroccan News Update. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  32. https://www.the-kenyan.co.ke/ (2017-04-20). "The Mars Generation Launches 24 Under 24: Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Annual Awards Program". Kenya's Content Aggregator, The Breaking News Headliner in Politics, Sports, Business, Videos And More. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  33. "'Train Like a Martian' Challenge Inspires Kids to Get Active". Space.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  34. "Weekly Space Hangout – January 6, 2017: Abigail "Astronaut Abby" Harrison – Universe Today". Universe Today. 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  35. "Join Astronaut Abby To Celebrate One Year in Orbit | Astronaut Abby". Astronaut Abby. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  36. "Team America Rocketry Challenge |". TARC. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  37. "Team America Rocketry Challenge |". TARC. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  38. "TARC Students Showcase Rockets as President Obama Highlights "Mars Generation" at Science Fair – Aerospace Industries Association". www.aia-aerospace.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  39. "The Humans to Mars Summit". h2m.exploremars.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  40. "Humans Will Walk on Mars by the Early 2030s". spaceref.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  41. "2016 Humans to Mars Summit – SpaceNews.com". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  42. "Partners". Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  43. Room, National Geographic Press; Room, National Geographic Press (2017-07-10). "National Geographic Kids and Toyota Set New Record for World's "Largest Toilet-Paper-Roll Sculpture" – National Geographic Partners Press Room". Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  44. "Get Involved". Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  45. "Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars". Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  46. TEDx Talks (2016-01-12), The Mars Generation | Dorothy (Dottie) Metcalf-Lindenburger | TEDxSnoIsleLibraries, retrieved 2017-08-14
  47. "10 TEDx Talks by women who've been to space". TEDx Innovations Blog. 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  48. "The Humans to Mars Summit". h2m.exploremars.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  49. "Explore Mars – Humans to Mars by the 2030s". www.exploremars.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  50. "2016 Humans to Mars Summit – SpaceNews.com". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  51. "Humans Will Walk on Mars by the Early 2030s". spaceref.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  52. "On Her way to Mars – Code Like A Girl". Code Like A Girl. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  53. "Astronaut Abby's Journey to Mars". Wellesley College. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  54. Staff (2017-01-18). "MBRSC launches the Project Space Forum on January 24". Emirates 24|7. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  55. "Project Space Event 2017 by Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre". www.projectspace.ae. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  56. STEM in 30 (TV Series 2014– ), retrieved 2017-08-14
  57. "The Women Paving the Way to Mars". National Air and Space Museum. 2016-09-02. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  58. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (2017-04-13), The Women Paving the Way to Mars – STEM in 30, retrieved 2017-08-14
  59. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (2017-04-13), The Women Paving the Way to Mars – STEM in 30, retrieved 2017-08-14
  60. "Aspiring Astronaut Abby Appearance and Photo Opportunity". www.kennedyspacecenter.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  61. "Summer of Mars | Kennedy Space Center". www.kennedyspacecenter.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.