NASA and Texas Instruments recently launched “The Search for STEMnauts,” a virtual scavenger hunt to help fuel kids’ desire to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Challenges in the course range from beginner to intermediate, all showcasing problems that National Aeronautics and Space Administration employees use in their jobs every day. 

“The future of space exploration lies in the hands of students in today’s classrooms.”
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson

“The future of space exploration lies in the hands of students in today’s classrooms,” NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, said in a STEMnauts release, “By creating opportunities to encourage teamwork, creativity and problem-solving, we can make learning fun and set students on a course to become the next generation of explorers.”

Here’s how the STEMnauts program works: Each week, NASA and Texas Instruments will post questions, riddles, and brainteasers for teams to figure out using the coding and STEM problem-solving processes that make human life in space possible.

Correct answers are worth from one to 20 points, and teams can attempt each answer as many times as they want as long as they abide by contest rules.

THE WINNING TEAM MEMBERS GET A VARIETY OF PRIZES 

The team that collects the most points by the end of the contest has the chance to chat with a NASA subject matter expert, win a TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculator, an assortment of STEM and space-related items. The adult sponsor of the winning team has the chance to win a $500 Amazon gift card.

Five teams will be chosen at random to receive a TI-84 Plus CE calculator for each team member.

The competition ends May 31.

Check out more about the mission, and register here. 

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