OSGC Educational Resources Blog

The Pacific International Space Center for Explorations Systems, also known as PISCES, announces its third annual Student Design Competition and invites teams from colleges and universities to participate.

The PISCES design program provides an opportunity to engage students in a rich and meaningful educational experience. Participating in the program allows students to work on design problems that are of current interest and that are important technical and programmatic issues central to the settlement of space. Students now in university design programs will be the professionals who will implement the decisions one day soon.

A total of up to three awards will be offered this year. Each award will consist of travel funds to bring two students and a faculty advisor to the PISCES annual conference to be held in Hilo, Hawaii, in November 2009. At this conference, the university studies will be presented to the PISCES team, and the student teams will be able to observe and participate in further planning of the PISCES program.

Any U.S. university may field one or more teams that are interested in the topics of lunar surface facilities, technology development, surface operations and commercial activities. It is expected that most participants will consist of design teams of three or more graduate and/or undergraduate students, with a faculty advisor. A student team leader and faculty advisor must be designated. Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged. It is not necessary for the team to be enrolled in a for-credit course to participate; however, they must have the support of a qualified faculty advisor. Teams are encouraged to document their work on a team Web site that promotes the exchange of information and collaboration with other participating teams, particularly Japanese teams.

A brief indication of interest is requested from university teams by Jan. 31, 2009.

For more information about this competition, visit http://pisces.hilo.hawaii.edu/competitions.php