More than 100 participants gathered at the UPC Castelldefels campus to experience Families Go to Mars, a hands-on educational event organized by the Hypatia Mars Association and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC).
The afternoon began with an engaging outreach talk about the Hypatia analog missions, where attendees learned how a team made up entirely of women scientists and technologists simulated life on Mars from the Utah desert. Members of the Hypatia II crew shared stories of their adventures and challenges living in isolation, bringing science and space exploration closer to families through an inspiring lens.
After the talk, children enjoyed a series of fun and creative workshops: launching paper homemade rockets, experimenting with colorful slime through chemical reactions, and engineering spacecraft mechanisms to safely land an “egg crew” on Mars. All activities were designed using experiential learning methods tailored for kids, with a special focus on encouraging scientific vocations among young girls in primary school. With a fun, welcoming, and curious atmosphere, Families Go to Mars was a unique opportunity to imagine, create, and learn, turning science into a playful and transformative experience for all ages.
A big thank you to all the participating families and collaborating organizations for making this inspiring day happen. See you on the next mission!
This event was made possible with the support of the Government of Catalonia, through the Department of Business and Labor, and was funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan