Welcome to the annual STEMarts International Design Challenge. For this year’s sci-art challenge, we invite teachers to explore the theme “Space for Earth – Space for All” with their students. Students are invited to create drawings that envision their future inspired by space science and technologies.
Northern NM and Guadalajara students: Call opens- July 22, 2024, Closes November 1, 2024. Mexico winners announced: November 22, 2024. New Mexico winners announced: November 29, 2024.
Ireland, Portugal and Austria partner schools: Call opens- January 6, 2025, Closes June 6, 2025. All winners announced: June 27, 2025
About the Challenge
The STEMarts International Design Challenge is open to New Mexico classrooms (student ages 14-20) and STEMarts International partner schools. The design challenge theme – Space for Earth- Space for All, is created in partnership with the Space Valley Coalition. Our mission is in alignment with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs vision to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space: Bringing the benefits of space to humanity.
Students learn about the many ways that space exploration has improved our life on earth and then imagining a space-inspired design connected to their local environment, culture, and community.
Our definition of space exploration also includes the telescopes and the particle physics detectors which are “rockets” to space that take us far beyond the physical rockets. These instruments allow us to understand the underlying nature of our universe which can inform their designs. We are looking for creative and multicultural perspectives that imagine alternative futures inspired by space exploration. See Latinx futurism, Afro-futurism, indigenous futurism for inspiration.
What matters to you? Student designs can be anything from fashion, transportation, and health to climate change, homelessness and deforestation.
The STEMarts Wikis are the heart of the design challenge. Here you can access an exciting repository of curated videos, articles, websites and other resources from cutting edge scientists, artists, designers, and interdisciplinary experts exploring space at the intersection of arts and humanities, science and technology. These resources can be integrated into classroom curricula and are designed to inspire student designs for the challenge.
A Global Award Competition
The STEMarts International Design Challenge awards prizes for the best designs to motivate and engage students. Classrooms in Northern New Mexico, USA and Guadalajara, Mexico will be participating in 2024. Classrooms in Ireland; Linz, Austria; and Lisbon, Portugal will participate in 2025. The winners from each of the participating cities/countries will then compete for the international prize in 2025.
Winning designs will be showcased on our website for global exposure. Cash prizes will be awarded across various categories. 2025 International winner ($500), Regionals: Best of Show ($300), Best of categories such as; Best Artistic Design, Most Innovative, Best Sustainable Solution, and Best Teacher Implementation($100). An interdisciplinary jury will include scientists from CERN and Fermilab, artists, museum directors/ curators and cultural specialists.
Augmented Reality Winner!
The international grand prize winning design will be transformed into an augmented reality experience as part of the traveling Space Messengers installation.
Get started now!
Special thanks to our key sponsors, Lor Foundation, Q Station, NM Trade Alliance, Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation, US Consulate in Guadalajara and LANL Community Partners Office
