Tesla Science Center’s Space Science program is about igniting curiosity, inspiring collaboration, and empowering future problem-solvers. By connecting students with the legacy of Nikola Tesla and the spirit of space exploration, we are shaping tomorrow’s innovators.
Nikola Tesla’s work as a scientific pioneer ushered in the Space Age, providing the foundation for modern radio technology, wireless communication, robotics, and remote-control technology. His visionary experiments and theories have paved the way for advances in space exploration and understanding the universe.
We invite students from Long Island and beyond to participate in our Space Science programs designed to echo Tesla’s innovative spirit, encourage students to explore, innovate, and contribute to scientific advancements, just as Tesla did in his time.
Space Apps Brookhaven
Organized by volunteers at Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe (TSCW), Space Apps Brookhaven is a host site for the Annual NASA Space Apps Challenge.
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is a hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, technologists, and innovators around the world to come together and use open data from NASA and its Space Agency Partners to create solutions to challenges we face on Earth and in space. This annual two-day event is the largest global annual hackathon and provides an opportunity for participants to utilize NASA’s free and open data and its Space Agency Partners’ space-based data. The event is held both locally and virtually, so participants from anywhere in the world can join.
For More Information: https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/
On October 5 & 6th, 2024, Space Apps Brookhaven, hosted its first NASA Space Apps Challenge with local collaborator Zebra Technologies. Teams of students worked together during the global hackathon to work on the theme “The Sun Touches Everything.”
Based upon Space Apps global judging criteria, local awards were given out by our local judges; Tom Bianculli, Chief Technology Officer at Zebra Technologies and board member for the New York Institute of Technology School of Engineering and the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe; Yu Sun, founder and CEO of Sunrise Technology Inc; and Richard Gearns, PhD, a New York State STEM Master Teacher, member of the Tesla Science Center board, and current vice-president.
We are proud to present the categories for the 2024 local awards:
2024 Nikola Tesla Awards for NASA Space Apps @ Space Apps Brookhaven
- Zebra Technologies Spirit of Innovation Award: Honoring the most innovative project advancing science and/or technology.
Winner: “Ohio Orbital Gang”
- Environmental Impact Award: Recognizing the project with the most significant contribution to addressing environmental challenges.
Winner: “Pace in Space”
- Tesla Science Center Designing Tomorrow Award: Celebrating the project with the most forward-looking vision for the betterment of humanity.
Winner: “Nutrient Navigators”
TSCW SpaceHack
Connect with other STEAM students and enthusiasts for our educational STEAM programs designed to help prepare students for the Space Apps Challenge through workshops focused on problem-solving, data analysis, and app design, with scientific instruction from NASA and NOAA scientists.
In preparation for the annual NASA Space Apps Challenge, TSCW hosts SpaceHack – Designing Tomorrow, Today, a STEAM educational program for high school students in grades 9 through 11 to prepare them for participation in Space Apps.
Inspired by the innovative spirit of Nikola Tesla, SpaceHack aims to ignite scientific curiosity, foster teamwork, and promote social responsibility. Students work with STEAM instructors to dive into the fundamentals of problem-solving, working with data, and app design and development during this dynamic two-session program.
2024 Presenters included;
Dr. Mark Miesch, research scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
Matthew Jording, STEAM instructor with 20 years of experience designing, developing and supporting application development and over 10 years of experience in software engineering and management.
Michael Caprio, community organizer and software engineer/architect with extensive experience in organizing hackathons, producing large-scale events and conferences, and hosting prominent events like NASA Space Apps’ global mainstage in New York City. Currently, he serves as a Core Programming Volunteer at the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, where he produces the SpaceHack STEAM program and is the founding organizer for Space Apps Brookhaven.
Jessica Gasparik, Physics Associate at Brookhaven National Lab while studying atmospheric sciences at Stony Brook University.
Patrick Morgan, STEAM instructor and AI and machine learning software engineer, specializing in using advanced algorithms to predict severe weather patterns.
Additional funding and support for the TSCW SpaceHack program has been provided by the Long Island Community Foundation, Grumman Aerospace, Zebra Technologies and by our Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe annual partners.
Upcoming Events:
Check back for our 2025 scheduled programming soon!
Email spacehack@teslasciencecenter.org to join our mailing list and be first to hear about planned dates!
If you are a Long Island teacher, administrator, or STEAM program manager, contact spacehack@teslasciencecenter.org to learn more about the SpaceHack program and the NASA Space Apps Challenge as we push the boundaries of what is possible through creativity and technology, nurture the next generation of innovators and explorers, and embark on a stellar journey inspired by Nikola Tesla’s legacy!
