Space exploration requires individuals who can think critically, adapt to uncertainty, and learn in cognitively complex environments. This paper examines how Human Systems Engineering (HSE) and cognitive design principles can enhance both astronaut training and STEM education on Earth. The same methodologies that help astronauts manage stress,…

Preparing students for the workforce is a balancing act that involves theory, practice, and assessment. As students navigate an educational experience that is, however, often distant from real-world needs, it is imperative that academia finds a novel way to bridge the gap. As many organizations utilize open challenges to attract ideas and talent,…

This study, a sub-study of a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research project, applies a modified strategy of the U[superscript 2]MC for an eight-week afterschool robotics curriculum to promote upper elementary students' computational thinking in the second grade. Twenty-one students in second grade participated in a Life on Mars project…