The event, held between November 3rd and 5th, gathered more than 30 delegations from Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Portugal, and Spain. Over three days, participants presented their projects and worked in international teams.
The absolute international award went to the delegation from Puerto Rico (NovaTerra Expedition team) for their project ‘RegoBrick’, which uses biological materials and processes to create construction structures in extreme environments.
The Spanish representation achieved notable success with the international team NEXUS-M16, which includes a student from IES Satafi in Getafe. They won the ‘MIX Multipaís’ award for their proposal of modular thermal panels to improve home insulation. As a prize, the student will travel to NASA's Space Center Houston.
Another institute from Getafe, IES Laguna de Joatzel, received the highest score in the ‘Original Projects’ category with the Schachmatt team. Their project ‘S.P.E.A.R. BioGrow’ features a portable probe to analyze and improve Martian soil, with the potential to restore soils contaminated on Earth. This award will allow them an educational space exploration immersion at the Alqueva Lake Observatory in Portugal.
‘Mars Challenge’ is consolidating itself as an initiative to bring science and technology closer to young people, connecting academic learning with real-world challenges such as material management, energy, habitability, and soil recovery. The competition fosters scientific vocations and international collaboration.
