Edlio High School is honored to announce its participation in the upcoming NASA Education & Innovation Conference 2042, taking place in Houston, Texas, this December. The event will bring together educators, scientists, and students from across the globe to discuss the future of space education, sustainability in off-world environments, and the evolving role of schools in preparing the next generation of explorers.
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Adrian Solace, our principal and former Martian engineer, Edlio High has become a recognized leader in integrating real-world space science into secondary education. This year, the school has been invited to host a dedicated panel discussion titled “From Classroom to Cosmos: Building Pathways to the Stars.”
The panel will include Edlio’s astrophysics instructor Professor Lena Watanabe, robotics mentor Carlos D’Angelo, and three of our standout students: Maya Patel, Elijah Nguyen, and Sofia Martinez—all members of the school’s “Nova Pioneers” research team. Together, they’ll share how project-based learning, simulated mission training, and the Mars Lab initiative are helping shape future astronauts and scientists.
In addition to the panel, Edlio High will showcase several student-led projects in the STEM Futures Pavilion, including a miniature model of a self-sustaining Martian greenhouse, a microgravity water filtration prototype, and a data visualization system developed using telemetry from real NASA satellites. These projects represent the school’s commitment to blending creativity, engineering, and environmental responsibility.
Dr. Solace will also deliver a keynote address titled “Learning Beyond Gravity: Education for the New Frontier.” Drawing on his personal experience of life and work on Mars, he will discuss how education systems can prepare young people not only for the challenges of space exploration but also for leadership in a rapidly advancing technological world.
This invitation from NASA marks a major milestone in Edlio High’s mission to inspire a culture of scientific inquiry and innovation. As Dr. Solace often says, “Education must always look up—because our next classroom might just be among the stars.”
Parents, students, and community members can follow live updates from the conference through our official school website and social media channels. Together, we’re not just reaching for the stars—we’re helping shape the minds that will walk among them.