Classic education in the Western world was traditionally centered around the trivium and the quadrivium. Together they formed the so called liberal arts or artes libres.
Continue reading Space settlements and education: back to the classics?
Civil Service Admission Test
A competent and relatively independent civil service will be critical to the survival any new society in outer space. Therefore we propose a three-stage selection process to fill position within the civil service: Continue reading Civil Service Admission Test
Rocketry breakthrough?
The main challenge to make space colonization a reality is a relatively inexpensive method of launching objects into orbit. Even after six decades of spaceflight we still rely upon chemical rockets as the principal way to get off this planet.
Space settlements and education
One of the most important things to considering when we are going to establish orbital space settlements is how to organize education in a new society. As stated earlier on this site we believe that education has two functions:
- Civic – prepare young people for active citizenship in a democratic society
- Economic – developing relevant and useful skills to earn one’s living
Some studies regarding education
We believe in an evidence-based approach when it comes to education reform. Therefore here some studies that might help future space settlements to design their educational policies.
Montessori preschool boosts academic results and reduces income-based inequality
On water chlorination
We have been arguing against the practice of water chlorination for some time. Though water disinfection is an important tool to promote public health, we do not believe that this is the proper method to do so.
A Case for Tele-operation
ScienceDaily reports a study by the Boston University School of Medicine: Take-home’ exposure are a public health hazard. To quote from the article:
Workers in many industries inadvertently bring home toxic contaminants, endangering the health of their families.
Threats to IQ
We have already discussed lead as a cause of diminished general intelligence among the population. However, there are many more substances that have an negative effect on people’s IQ. ScienceDaily has the following report:
Flame retardants and pesticides overtake heavy metals as biggest contributors to IQ loss
Cycling for live
We believe that health policy should be focused on prevention or health promotion. This will, in our humble opinion, lead to lower medical expenses in the long run. Like other public policies health promotion consists of many different elements. ScienceDaily reports on one of this building blocks: Continue reading Cycling for live
Future Food: Ferming
George Manbiot has an interesting opinion piece in The Guardian: Lab-grown food will soon destroy farming – and save the planet. To quote him:
It’s a primordial soup of bacteria, taken from the soil and multiplied in the laboratory, using hydrogen extracted from water as its energy source. When the froth was siphoned through a tangle of pipes and squirted on to heated rollers, it turned into a rich yellow flour. Continue reading Future Food: Ferming
