At its heart, the Mars Society's mission is an educational one -- to educate the citizens of the world about the opportunity, timeliness, and importance of exploring and colonizing Mars. We employ many means to that end; simulations, science, political education and outreach, music, art. One of the most high-impact areas we can develop, while simultaneously making a direct contribution to the public good, is science education. An entire generation of ecology-minded, environmentally concerned citizens is just now coming of age because science classes started teaching ecology in the eighties. Mars-oriented science education can do the same for going to Mars, and create inspiration and passion for studying science at the same time.

It is with great excitement that we announce Mars Ed, a Mars Society educational outreach project. Mars Ed is organizing to provide science education content to schools, educators, museums, science centers, space advocacy groups, media outlets, and other interested parties. The content will be varied, multi-media, engaging, and relevant to state and national standards.

We have some amazing educational resources, from the Mars Analog Simulations to the remarkable array of talents and expertise of our members. We will seek to partner with NASA, CSA, space advocacy groups, space industry and commercial space organizations to create and provide science education content via low-bandwidth teleconferences from the Analog stations, high-bandwidth teleconferences from other locations, multi-media presentations, pre- recorded audio/video, science chats, and science competitions and contests. Perhaps one day we will even help school classrooms establish their own Mars Simulations.

Following a successful pilot program at the Hillside School in Bridgewater, New Jersey, our next specific project will be remote science education programs from the upcoming FMARS long duration mission. What we need now are team members who share this vision, and have time, talent, expertise, resources, and ideas to contribute.

Bob McNally and Melissa Battler
Contact: Bob McNally