Brian McDowell

McDowell’s innovative teaching idea, “Life on Mars?,” seeks to give students an authentic simulation of the quest to answer the question: Is there life on Mars? Ever since humans have had telescopes strong enough to see the details of the surface of Mars, many have wondered if there was life on the planet. Students will engineer robots into Martian rovers that will transverse a simulated Mars landscape and collect Martian soil samples. Then, using sand and yeast as "Martian Soil," students are challenged to create an inquiry that answers the question, "Is there life on Mars?" In preparation, students will research NASA's attempt at resolving the question. Then, students will use their knowledge of life on Earth to design a controlled experiment and gather data for analysis. Students will also participate in a Mars symposium to debate their conclusions and the conclusions of others.