On 17 November, from 8:30 to 10:30, our PYP5 class will take part in a special educational experience dedicated to space exploration, featuring aerospace engineer Thomas Panozzo.
The initiative aims to introduce students to STEM subjects through an authentic, engaging experience that goes far beyond theoretical learning alone. Science and technology are best explored, tested and understood through hands-on experiences that encourage questions, develop critical thinking and nurture curiosity about the world around us and beyond.
In the first part of the session, the engineer will explain what happens before the much-anticipated launch of a rocket, exploring the design, preparation and testing phases that make a space mission possible. Through exclusive documentation collected during his years working at NASA, students will gain a unique insight into the world of aerospace engineering, discovering the work, skills and challenges behind major scientific achievements. They will see how scientific and technological knowledge can be transformed into real-world projects, and perhaps some of them will be inspired to become the aerospace engineers of tomorrow.
The experience will continue with an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) workshop, during which students will explore the International Space Station (ISS), observe the environments where astronauts live and work, and experience simulated movement in microgravity.
Our Communications Team will also be there to capture photos and videos of the day.
The combination of professional expertise, authentic documentation and immersive technologies will allow students to move from listening to active exploring, making complex concepts more accessible, engaging and memorable. Our goal is to turn learning into an experience that leaves a lasting impression, helping students see STEM subjects as opportunities to understand the world, imagine solutions and contribute to the innovations of the future.