BURBANK, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Ever consider a job searching for water on the Moon? How about a career as a spaceport engineer in the middle of the desert? Or, what if your job involved using advanced computer design software to develop a new type of launch vehicle to carry astronauts out of Earth's "gravity well?"

These are just some of the stories in the line-up of video programs that will be featured on The Futures Channel (thefutureschannel.com) as some 50 countries observe World Space Week (October 4-10). This year's theme is "Space for Education."

When students ask the age-old question "When will I ever use this?" thousands of math and science teachers turn to The Futures Channel each week to show their students online movies about applications of and careers involving science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM).

In "The Surface of Mars," Molly McCanta explains that it's her job to analyze 39 rare rocks from Mars that ended up on Earth as meteorites. Why? To get better idea of where to land when we visit the Red Planet. Also being featured is "Powering the Planet" that shows viewers what it would be like to work on the largest green engineering project in history -- harnessing solar power from space and beaming it down to Earth.

One of those teachers is Angela Barriga from Maitland, Florida.

"More and more, my students beg to see what The Futures Channel has for the week. It's not only a part of my lesson, but it's a treat for the class. I use it as a reward," she said. "Thank you for bringing such exciting, informative and captivating programs right into our classroom. The various professions have also awakened interest in many students."

Susan Childs, a high school teacher from Forsyth, Georgia, agrees that the career connection in the videos is important.

"I teach careers, and it's necessary that students use math. Anytime they can have a lesson that relates to the 'real world,' or can be taught something that they can apply to their own life, it is more useful than anything I can show them in a book. The videos are a great double whammy for my kids because they see the career in action and they see how math is important in that career," said Childs.

The Futures Channel was founded in 1999 with the goal of "using new media technologies to create a channel between the scientists, engineers, explorers and visionaries who are shaping the future, and today's learners who will one day succeed them."

    For more information, contact:
    Jenna Bowles
    jbowles@thefutureschannel.com
    818.557.3000

SOURCE The Futures Channel

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.thefutureschannel.com