STEM Excursion Scienceworks Museum

We set off early on a rainy Wednesday morning to visit Scienceworks. The rain could not dim the group’s excitement as we were all looking forward to participating in the program, Space Design: Humans on the Moon

The investigative step of the design process began in the Planetarium, where we watched Solar System Odyssey. This short film is set in the future and follows the main character, Jackson Larson, on his quest to find a new planet to call home within our Solar System. Jackson, however, did not count on finding stowaway, Ashley Trout, onboard. Ashley is a risk-taking youth who changes the direction of the exploration. We watched and learned about the icy rings of Saturn to Jupiter’s volcano-ridden moon, all while feeling as though we were on the quest ourselves.

After the short film, we researched what humans need—wherever they are—to survive, and also what is required to protect ourselves in the atmosphere in space. A space researcher from Swinburne University shared solutions already tested as well as problems which still needed to be addressed. We worked collaboratively to imagine new ideas and create solutions to the problems. Following on, we were able to access multiple resources to design a prototype of the space base we imagined.

Some designs by students included plastic domes, foil tunnels, CD stacks for multi-level buildings and indoor farms; all the necessities we needed to live on the moon! Overall, we had an amazing day learning about space, and it was an experience we will never forget!