Topic: Innovative design for long-term human settlement into the Solar system

Submission:  https://bit.ly/35VBs7m  by May 1, 2022

A recent study (https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/9/3/53/pdf) suggests that our humanity’s best chance for long-term survival is to become “interplanetary.” To address this pressing possibility, an aggressive and sustained space exploration program, which includes colonization, is needed for potential human expansion beyond Earth. 

CESASC is launching an Essay Contest to layout innovative design or “bule-print” of long-term human settlement on Solar system bodies based on current available technology. The target Solar system bodies could include the Moon, Mars, asteroids, or moons in Jovian and Saturn systems. The winning essay and other finalists will be awarded a cash prize up to $1000 and a CESASC Award Certificate. We also plan to use the winning essays of this contest extensively in our future outreach efforts.

This 2022 essay contest encompasses a combination of physical science and social science reasoning to address the interdisciplinary nature of this topic. In your essay, discuss your ideas of paths for our civilization to grow and survive in the future.

•       Open to All K-12 students. 

•       We will accept submissions from both individuals and teams, worldwide. 

•       $1000 First Prize plus Second & Third place prizes will be awarded.

•       Deadline is May 1, 2022 at Midnight US Central Time.

The intent of this essay should lay out plans and demonstrate the feasibility of a real project in the next 100 years. The design should be as realistic as possible and ready to manufacture, launch and make operational with existing or very-near-term technologies. Each of the submissions will be judged by a panel of science and technology experts on the following criteria. Each entrant should submit a PDF document of no more than 15 pages including at least one diagram or figure. Submissions can be made using a Google Form which is linked to below. Teams should include the names of each team member in the first page of the essay. Correct contact information including email and phone will need to be provided so that finalists and winners may be contacted.

Teachers and Mentors: Please help us spread the word about the Essay Contest to display in your classroom and distribute to interested students.

Essay Contest Awards

•       First Place:  $1,000 scholarship and free registration for CESASC’s upcoming Annual General Meeting (Transportation to the conference is not provided.)

•       Second Place:  $500 scholarship

•       Third Place:  $250 scholarship