Challenge to Mars Virtual Educa
Universidad Espíritu Santo de Ecuador (UEES) stands out as the only Ecuadorian institution to participate in Virtual Educa's Mars 2023 Challenge, an exciting university challenge in hackathon format that promotes experiential learning and talent development in the aerospace sector. In this unique experience, UEES students worked in teams, developed both technical and soft skills essential for professional success, while devising innovative proposals for a future human expedition and sustainable habitat on Mars.
This program aims to awaken the interest of young people in the aerospace industry and encourage innovative solutions under NASA's rigorous standards. Participating teams presented proposals that can not only be applied on Mars, but also on Earth, exploring advanced technologies that would make life on the red planet possible. The winning team, RED GAIA, stood out with an innovative proposal based on a radiotrophic fungal system, designed to reduce radiation in enclosed spaces and contribute to a safe and sustainable habitat on Mars, with potential applications also on our own planet.
