The Education Program at SAM
Coming soon!
At SAM, our team believes in hands-on education about mars, earth and our own analog habitat. This push for knowledge goes beyond the visiting professionals and adults who visit SAM for research or analog missions. We have long had education in the forefront of our vision for the future and now that SAM is operational and running with the construction phase over, we are so thrilled to begin that mission!
Starting in the fall of 2026, SAM will be offering an educational curriculum program to first through twelfth grade students! These groups are able to choose from three programs designed all around SAM and offworld living. Students will then engage with a curriculum program that is up to state standards for science education, and each kid can go home learning something new and exciting to share with their friends and family.
Hands-On Learning Experiences:
Reduced Gravity Simulator Workshop
The Reduced Gravity Simulator (RGS), located within the Mars Yard, is designed to simulate a reduced gravity environment such as on the Moon (1/6) and Mars (1/3). Participants are divided into smaller teams to calculate the difference in weight as would be experienced in a reduced gravitational field, and then the amount of weight added to the counter-mass system to create the desired reduced gravitational field. The rig is then loaded with the calculated mass.
Geological Clock Workshop
Mars has experienced significant geological changes which all contribute to the timeline and Law of Superposition. With the Mars Yard functioning as an accurate chronological analog, in a compact form, participants work in small groups to identify the presented layers. Then, they recreate the estimated timeline, names given to the layers, and key features.
Sustainable Living Workshop
Participants learn how astronauts and analogs can practice sustainable living for a low waste environment. Lessons include demonstration of food and waste processing, tour of facilities, explanation of mycelia, and concepts related to recycling on Earth too. Our tag line “how we live on Mars in the future should be how we are living on Earth now” shows the commitment to sustainability.
Our team will be working closely with Biosphere2 and their own programs for students both in the Tucson and Phoenix area, as well as visiting groups from all over the country. We suggest to interested teachers and schools that they schedule an app-guided walking tour of Biosphere 2 prior to the visit to SAM, to fully understand the importance of the material and to learn more about the iconic location where SAM resides.
We will bring classes into the SAM habitat, but primarily we will focus on the geologic Mars Yard as this space was designed and built for education, film, and research by our team, making it the perfect place to host students.
Our curriculum was designed and assembld by Jacob Ball, a three year high school science teacher in Tucson. He worked closely with SAM’s Director Kai Staats, Co-Director Luna Powell, and the SAM team to bring this program to life.
If you are interested in bringing a school or homeschool group to SAM please contact lunapowell at arizona dot edu for more information.