EducaLabs

Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo State | Near-Space Near You!

Awards & Nominations

EducaLabs has received the following awards and nominations. Way to go!

Global Nominee

Balloon Over the Moon

High-Level Project Summary

The Balloon Over The Moon project proposes a practical application of physics through the construction of High-Altitude Balloon, focusing on reusing the disposable face masks, which will be used to make the balloon's parachute.We developed a lesson plan that encompasses both theoretical teachings and tools for experimentation. The practical construction of the balloon will take place in an extracurricular event in an appropriate place with mentoring from teachers, with the aim of showing how complex concepts can be applied in everyday life, in line with sustainability and concern with the environment impacts.

Link to Project "Demo"

https://www.canva.com/design/DAEruXKVPvw/22a3SiFJg0j6_w-yNXtesA/view?utm_content=DAEruXKVPvw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton

Link to Final Project

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IixnYd_a1rQe1dHsWMIyNHT1B-UkZquo7C3Gonv0y7Q/edit?usp=sharing

Detailed Project Description

According to Instituto Akatu, since the beginning of the pandemic, it is estimated that Brazil has discarded more than 12.7 billion masks, the equivalent of 4.7 thousand African elephants (the largest land animal on the planet).

The EducaLabs team proposes the reuse of these masks to make low-cost high-altitude balloon parachutes, with the aim of bringing high school students closer to the concepts of physics through their practical application.

To achieve our goal, after a bibliographical research and a form sent to students and teachers, we created a lesson plan that addresses the theoretical concepts of physics, such as Mechanics and Thermodynamics, aligning with examples of how the balloon works. In addition to theory, the plan brings experimental lessons with tools available for free, which draw real scenarios for the balloons to reach high altitude.

According to our survey, most of students (68,2%) would be more interested in physics if classes were more practical. They also said that their physics classes were not practical. In addition, all teachers that answer our survey said practical classes are a great way to help their students to understand natural phenomenons and make them interested in physics. A low-cost High-Altitude Balloon would be a nice way to stimulate practical physics classes, increasing student's interest.

Finally, as a practical proposal, we will have the Balloon Over The Moon Festival, an extracurricular event open to the public that divides students into teams, mentored by professors and undergraduate students in physics, who will work with students to produce and release the balloons.

These events will be sponsored by companies that will be able to stamp their brands on the balloon as a way of advertising and research incentive. The events will be held in open spaces, with brigades available for emergencies.

The objective of the project is to bring the student closer to physics and show how these concepts can be applied in everyday life, in line with the concern with the environment. According to our research, students are not very interested in physics, but they are interested in practical activities and would like to build a High Altitude Balloon.

Space Agency Data

Nasa data

NASA Mission Will Study the Cosmos With a Stratospheric Balloon

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-mission-will-study-the-cosmos-with-a-stratospheric-balloon

Students Send Balloons to the Stratosphere

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/technology/explorers_balloons.html

Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility

https://www.csbf.nasa.gov/balloons.html

Scientific Balloons

https://www.nasa.gov/scientificballoons

Hackathon Journey

The team chose the following challenge because it believes in Brazilian education. Therefore, we sought a challenge that would send something educational so that, through our solution, we could help solve some problem in education in our country.

In our journey, we went through several meetings, discussions, knowledge, learning and interactions, which enriched us as human beings and active citizens in society. Through this challenge, we were able to conduct detailed research and learn new concepts on a topic that none of us had mastered, as well as new tools and organizations for teamwork.

Furthermore, meeting different people and relating to new personalities allows us to develop better communication skills. Designing a project like this made us feel useful!