Mission to Mars at the Ontario Science Centre

They enjoyed a lively and interactive chemistry demonstration. Students were invited up from the audience to participate in exciting experiments. The demonstration applied and reinforced what students have been learning in class in a unique, attention-grabbing way that ignited student’s curiosity.

Students got the opportunity to explore the Science Centre’s exhibits at their leisure, learning about what interested them the most, before meeting back up for the afternoon’s main event: the Mission to Mars simulation.

Students divided up into teams to cover all the varied roles that would be required in a real space mission. This included expected tasks like navigation and probe management, but also surprising but necessary roles like communications and media.

The various teams coordinated to respond to various challenges and surprise crises as they arose. They worked under pressure to gather necessary information, communicate and plan effectively with one another, and find create solutions to unfamiliar challenges.

It gave students a taste of the necessary skills that are often overlooked when it comes to the sciences — communication, creativity, and problem-solving. It was also an exciting look at the many possibilities for careers in the sciences.