In this project, you choose and describe a course of action to save the human species. You are required to submit this project to your teacher for marks. Very carefully, read the whole project and how to do it. Be sure to read the requirements and rubric, they explain the expectations for this project and how it will be marked. Click here if you need tips on how to create a good project!
Situation
At some point in the future, pollution and climate change threaten to make the Earth uninhabitable. Living conditions have worsened to the point that humans can no longer live safely on Earth unless drastic action is taken.
The United Nations (UN) decides to convene a panel responsible for deciding the best course of action for everyone on Earth. Experts have been asked to give the panel a recommendation. You are one of the experts that will be giving advice to the
panel.
Should humans leave Earth and colonize another planet or should humans stay on Earth and use technology to improve our living conditions? Or, should humans build habitable space stations or shuttles?
Project Task
Choose a course of action to save the human species. Create a presentation for the UN panel that describes and explains how your proposed course of action will ensure that humans continue to have clean water, plentiful food, breathable air, sufficient
waste disposal, and a comfortable temperature.
Convincing the UN panel will require an understanding of space, current technologies, and, possibly, scientific principles that can be applied to new technologies.
Before you begin designing your presentation, ask yourself these questions:
What do humans need to stay alive?
What benefits are involved in going to space versus staying on Earth?
What challenges are involved in going to space versus staying on Earth?
Method
1. Read through all the following proposals carefully. They all describe possible courses of actions that humans can take to save the human species.
A. Stay on Earth and work to improve living conditions.
How can we use technologies designed for space to ensure the population continues to have clean water, plentiful food, breathable air, sufficient waste disposal, and a comfortable temperature?
Would we need to construct a new environment on Earth to protect ourselves?
B. Move to a planet or celestial object already known to us.
Some planets and celestial objects are similar enough to Earth to be made habitable. How would we get there?
Considering the environment of the planet or celestial object, what would we need to take with us?
How can we ensure the population continues to have clean water, plentiful food, breathable air, sufficient waste disposal, and a comfortable temperature?
C. Construct space shuttles or International Space Stations that can create a habitat for humans in space.
Could we construct an artificial environment that orbits another celestial body or travels through space?
How can we use technologies designed for space to ensure the population continues to have clean water, plentiful food, breathable air, sufficient waste disposal, and a comfortable temperature?
D. A plan of your choice
Do you have another idea? Use what you know about space, scientific principles, and technology to describe your idea.
How can we use technologies designed for space to ensure the population continues to have clean water, plentiful food, breathable air, sufficient waste disposal, and a comfortable temperature?
2. Which course of action do you think humans should take? Select one of the proposals from Step 1 as your position, for your presentation.
3. Choose the way you would like to communicate your presentation. Here are some ideas from which you can choose:
Draw a labelled diagram of your proposed human habitat. Draw with pencil, paper, and coloured pencils.
Design or use a computer drawing program such as Adobe Photoshop or Gimp, to create a labelled diagram of your proposed human habitat.
Create a Powerpoint and use it to create a screencast video, recording your voice over it.
Create a website explaining your proposed human habitat, including pictures.
Build a model of your proposed human habitat using recycled objects around your house. Then, photograph or video various aspects of your model to share with your teacher.
Use other creative ideas, but check with your teacher first!
Requirements
You must include the following five components about your proposed course of action to provide a safe habitat for humans.
You can provide written answers to these requirements, or you can include the answers as labels if you produce a drawing of your design.
Another option is to address these requirements by recording yourself (and your model or drawings) on video or make an audio recording.
1. Visually illustrate or construct a model for the habitat, supported by your presentation.
2. Include a general description of the location of your solution and the people involved. Justify your choices. (Why here? Why these people?)
3. Identify the challenges that must be met in sustaining life in the environment.
Describe how the basic needs of people will be met, including:
Ensuring a clean water source
Ensuring ample food supply
Ensuring ample oxygen supply
Ensuring a comfortable temperature for the population
Describe how other necessities will be addressed, including:
Communication within the environment or with other habitats
Fuel and/or energy to power any necessary technologies
4. Describe how one of the following space technologies can contribute to the success of your proposed solution:
Hubble Telescope
International Space Station
Mars Rover
Dextre
Global Positioning System
Optical telescopes
Space Probes
Radio interferometry
5. Defend your proposed course of action using two of the following perspectives. Describe the reasons your proposal will be a success from these perspectives.
Note that when you submit anything to your teacher, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME IN THE DOCUMENT TITLE. For example, you might title it something like this:
