Exploring the Moon and beyond with students at O‘ahu correctional center
Education program instructors in front of the Women's Correctional Center in Kailua: (l to r) Barb Bruno, Nina Webb, Matt Miller
A six-week, hands-on lunar and planetary science education program, “Exploring the Moon and Beyond” was offered at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua, O‘ahu this spring. The opportunity was developed by researchers and staff members at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Mānoa and Washington University in St. Louis (WashU).
People who are incarcerated represent a significantly underserved community with definite barriers to accessing opportunities to learn and advance in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) fields.
“There are huge obstacles preventing incarcerated people from pursuing further education and professional careers in STEAM,” said Barb Bruno, program co-creator and research specialist at the Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology in the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). “We recognized the need to provide scientific outreach and education to this community of learners. We’re hoping this program helps inmates to imagine a positive future when they are released, and to imagine the possibility that they could be a scientist—to know that it’s within reach if it’s something they want and are willing to work for.”
A longitudinal study by the U.S. Department of Justice that followed released inmates from 30 different states, found that 68% were arrested for a new crime within three years of release. That number jumped to 79% after six years and to 83% after nine years.
“These results beg the question: what works to reduce recidivism?” said Nina Webb, staff scientist at WashU and co-creator of the outreach program. “Although the answer is clearly complex, many proven approaches involve education.”
The non-credit program reached maximum enrollment of 12 students and utilized the Moon and planets as vehicles to teach STEAM content, build STEAM skills and self-efficacy, share cutting-edge NASA research, improve college readiness, and stimulate further interest in education.
Each two-hour class was planned and taught by a team of SOEST and WashU researchers, staff, graduate students, and a community member including Bruno, Webb, Marcie Grabowski, Matt Miller, Emma Layton, and Hawkins Biggins. Classes focused on the solar system, Moon, meteorites, requirements for NASA’s future missions to the Moon, and conditions for life on Earth and beyond. Each session began with a brief presentation, followed by hands-on activities and group discussion.
“Though teaching in a correctional facility presented challenges—such as staples being prohibited items—the students engaged in meaningful and positive learning experiences each week,” said Matt Miller, program instructor who was an Atmospheric Sciences graduate student during the outreach program. “This experience really affirmed how powerful access to education can be in sparking peoples’ imaginations. Science, and a love for geoscience especially, changed how I see the world, and I really enjoyed sharing how exciting science is.”
Students in the course received a certificate of participation, which is placed in their case file to acknowledge their effort in taking pro-active steps to make positive plans for their future.
“We hope that this program sparked or furthered the students’ curiosity about STEAM-related topics, supported a positive self-identity, and possibly helps to reduce recidivism through enhanced job opportunities,” said Webb.
The team plans to offer an additional six-week program at the Men’s Waiawa Correctional Facility in late Fall 2025.
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