Chihuahua will be a pioneer in Mexico with the “Mars Challenge” program
The state of Chihuahua will be a pioneer in the country with the implementation of the international Reto Marte program, a global platform for open innovation and talent development aimed at high school and university students.
This is part of the results obtained during the state government's participation, through the Secretariats of Innovation and Economic Development (SIDE) and Education and Sports (SEyD), in the Paris Air Show, the world's most important trade fair, held last June.
At that meeting, the heads of both state agencies signed a collaboration agreement with Virtual Educa, Space Talent Lab, and the Mexican Federation of the Aerospace Industry (Femia) to bring the Mars Challenge to Mexico for the first time.
The program's mission is to inspire and empower students to imagine and design sustainable solutions that make life on Mars possible and transform Earth, connecting industry, academia, and government to train the new generation of innovative leaders who will shape the future.
This activity is an international movement that has already been present in other Latin American countries, and on this occasion, it has the Chihuahua entity as a strategic ally.
The state government supports and promotes the initiative, which will project young people onto the international stage of educational innovation and the aerospace industry, sowing the seeds of STEM vocations and preparing them for the challenges ahead.
The 2024 edition of Reto Marte mobilized more than 40 universities and colleges from 10 countries, with solutions ranging from geothermal energy to regenerative heating systems for hostile environments. More than 12,000 students, 500 teams, and 45 finalist proposals participated.
With the aim of promoting and encouraging students to join this project, the Secretary of Education and Sports, Francisco Hugo Gutiérrez Dávila, held a meeting with directors of the Upper Secondary Education subsystems and rectors of the Technological and Polytechnic Universities.
The official stated that it is extremely important to promote innovation, technology, and the aerospace industry among the student community, with a view to producing professionals who meet the global demands of the labor market.
The director general of Reto Marte, Agustín Paulín, highlighted that the state has a privileged geographical location and an industry that connects with international suppliers, not only with companies in the aerospace sector and high-tech industries.
He added that to be globally competitive, the industry needs talent, so bringing Reto Marte to Mexico for the first time positions Chihuahua as an international player.
Paulín explained that during their participation in this challenge, young people strengthen their STEM skills and the responsible use of artificial intelligence, with a focus on environmental sustainability.
The exploration of Mars involves researching its environment through robotic missions and future manned expeditions to understand its potential to support life and prepare for human colonization.
It began with the space race, and interest in Mars became popular with theories about artificial canals, although the first scientific approach occurred with Galileo's telescope in 1610.
