--Doug Bennett, EOS Project Science Office, doug.bennett.1@gsfc.nasa.gov
--Steve Graham, EOS Project Science Office, steven.m.graham.2@gsfc.nasa.gov
As part of its ever-expanding outreach and education efforts, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has funded a grant to support an Odyssey of the Mind (OM) problem for the 1998-99 school year. OM is a world-wide school program that promotes creative team-based problem solving for kids from kindergarten through college. Students solve problems in a variety of areas from building mechanical devices such as spring-driven vehicles to giving their own interpretation of literary classics. It features an annual competition component at local through international levels. The program fosters divergent thinking and problem-solving skills while participating in a series of challenging and motivating activities, both inside and outside their regular classroom curriculum.
During July 1997, OM representatives visited Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and presented the philosophy of the OM program to a diverse group from GSFC and NASA Headquarters. After their presentation, it was readily apparent that OM could provide a unique forum for students to learn more about NASA's comprehensive program to study the Earth as an environmental system, the Earth Science Enterprise. A unanimous decision to support an Earth Science problem prompted the return of the OM staff to GSFC in November 1997. After a day of intense discussions with NASA scientists, educators, and other members of the EOS staff, a prototype of the problem was formulated; the final version of the problem follows:
"The team will present a performance about an Earth species that requires atmosphere, water and land for survival, whose present habitat suffered disruption and is now uninhabitable. Four potential new habitats are available but whether the species can live in any of them is unknown. During the performance, the team will collect samples representing atmosphere, water and land from the habitats and analyze them with a discriminating device to determine if each habitat is suitable for the species. The result of these evaluations must be communicated to each site by a non-verbal method. Time Limit is 8 minutes. Cost Limit is $100."
Just as scientists use satellites and other tools to study the Earth, NASA hopes that by supporting an OM problem it will inspire students to gain a better understanding of the global environment by exploring the interaction between the Earth's systems of air, land, water, and life. Earth scientists rarely work independently of one another; instead, they bounce ideas around, build on research made by other Earth scientists, and try to solve problems collectively by sharing knowledge and experience. One of OM's overall goals is to help students work similarly by learning skills such as "working with others as a team, evaluating ideas, making decisions, and creating solutions".
The EnvirOMental Challenge was designed to encourage students to think critically and cooperatively about a complex problem in the same way that Earth scientists, weather forecasters, farmers, fishermen, politicians, and planners must confront daily the dual challenge of understanding how natural processes affect humanity, and how we affect those same natural processes. NASA is proud to include OM in a long list of partners who are working together to improve our knowledge of the Earth and to use that knowledge for the benefit of all humanity.
Goddard Space Flight Center's EOS Project Science Office participated in this year's 1997/98 World Finals, which were held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The objective was to distribute NASA Earth Science Enterprise and EOS materials with the goal of promoting the 1998/99 EnvirOMental Challenge problem. The 1998/99 World Finals will be held at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, May 26-29.
Additional information on Odyssey of the Mind can be found at www.odyssey.org. NASA's Web site to assist OM teams in solving the problem is located at http://eospso.gsfc. nasa.gov/om.html.