Interstellar Dreams Space Centers Workforce Pipeline Inititative

What We Believe?

"TheEarthandtheuniversebeyond belongtoallofus. TheInterstellarDreamsSpaceCenter cultivatesanawarenessofS.T.E.M.careers inaerospace,beyondbeinganastronaut."

Robin McDougal, Founder Interstellar Dreams

MICRO-Manufacturing

Our Mission

REACH ONE MILLION YOUTH, ESPECIALLY GIRLS AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES

The Interstellar Dreams Space Center is committed to expanding the aerospace workforce by identifying and nurturing Critical Thinking as a Primary Talent Asset through Micro Space Center Programming.

STATE-OF-THE-ART SIMULATORS

IMMERSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITH MISSION COMMAND, A SPACE STATION, AND PLANETARY HABITAT

Micro Space Centers

Mission Control

Micro Manufacturing

“ People who can dream an interstellar dream can solve problems for humanity.”

Interstellar Dreams Mission Control

Robin McDougal, Founder

Who We Are?

EXPLORE IMAGINE DESIGN

INTERSTELLAR DREAMS SPACE CENTER

The Pearl Project Institute for Innovation in STEM Literacy is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization founded in 2014 and is designed to create a direct pipeline of STEM-Literate youth ready for the global workforce.

Our mission is to fan the flames of invention and innovation between experts, novice professionals, and our youth.

The Pearl Project Institute's Interstellar Dreams Space Center is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of aerospace and cislunar economy leaders.

The Interstellar Dreams Space Center specializes in embedding critical thinking as a primary talent asset through simulation and immersion as an educational tool.

Our goal is to reach 1 million youth, especially girls.

EIN: 46 5249711

"NEVER

MaeC.Jemison,NASAAstronaut,Physician,Engineer

Why?

TALENT CREATION & DEVELOPMENT

As space becomes more accessible, especially with developments in small satellites that have greater commercial viability, demand for aerospace engineers is expected to increase.

Critical Mass

Begin Exiting by 2030

Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Aerospace Engineers

57% Age 43.5

16% Age 20-30

Increase Diversity and Inclusion

Aerospace Engineers

Male: 88.8%

Female: 11.2%

Asian 11%

Hispanic/Latino 10.8%

Black or African American, 4.1%

American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%

Prototype Development

What is the Space Economy ?

THE FASTEST GROWING AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

AI,Wearables,Transportation,Navigation,Robotics, RemoteSensing,3DPrintedHabitats,DebrisMitigation, SpaceTourism,cybersecurity,Defense,Satellite Communications,Earthimaging,Energy Generation/Storage

Virginia Aerospace Industry On The Rise

Forecasted to grow 8.5% over the next decade.

"BOUNDARIES REIMAGINED"

John

Schmidt GlobalSpaceSector,Accenture

What We Do?

TALENT CREATION & DEVELOPMENT

The Pearl Project Institute was named for the pearl found in the body of the oyster. Cultivated over time, the pearl becomes highly valued.

Like the Pearl, we cultivate the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) leaders, especially girls. With a focus on aerospace, we want to ensure today’s youth are groomed for career opportunities as they take their place in the next frontier of space exploration.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge, knowledge is limited while imagination encircles the world"

ALBERT EINSTEIN

Developing Exceptional Minds for the Future

WHAT IS S.T.E.M. LITERACY?

INTERSTELLAR THINKING

NURTURING S.T.E.M. LITERACY FOR THE CISLUNAR ECONOMY

S.T.E.M. jobs are projected to grow at a fast pace relative to other occupations.

S.T.E.M. workers help drive our nation's innovation and competitiveness by generating new ideas and new companies. As a result, workers need critical thinking and technical skills as their primary assets. According to Morgan Stanley (May 2022), "There is an accelerated rush to explore the expanding frontiers of the space economy." From Earth monitoring satellites to national security debris mitigation, the next generation must have the ability to solve problems that we do not yet know exist.

Design Thinking Set & Achieve Goals

Persistence Behavior

Precision & Accuracy

Collaborative Leadership

Communicate Problem Solving Ideas

Grades 6-12

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

SUMMER INSTITUTES

ANNUAL CONFERENCE INTERNSHIPS

HOME SCHOOL PROGRAMS

PARENT ACADEMIC COACHING

UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE

TALENT DEVELOPMENT

YOUNG EMERGING ADULTS CORPORATE MODELING

CAREER INTERNSHIPS

BLAZE ENTREPRENEURIAL ACCELERATOR

BLAZEI COLLEGE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

MICRO-SPACE CENTER

Mission

Interstellar Dreams Space Centers are dedicated to cultivating an awareness of S.T.E.M. careers in aerospace, beyond being an astronaut. By bringing unique, experiential S.T.E.M. learning opportunities to national communities, we are on track to reaching 1 million youth, especially girls. Interstellar Dreams Space Center is the home of space flight simulations, engineering challenges, entrepreneurial endeavors, and critical thinking talent development.

The Pearl Project Institute is currently serving public schools, recreational centers, faith-based programs, after-school and home-school communities. Since 2012, the Pearl Project’s STEM curriculum has guided, teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders through the “how-to” of STEM learning with easy-to-use themed kits, summer institutes for middle and high school, and internships for college-aged young adults.

Our Goal: Reach 1 million Youth Especially Girls

Our Supporters & Partners

TALENT CREATION & DEVELOPMENT

The Pearl Project Institute was named for the pearl found in the body of the oyster. Cultivated over time, the pearl becomes highly valued.

CORPORATIONS CORPORATIONS

SOTERYEX, CORP

SOTERYEX, CORP

FRAMESTORE FRAMESTORE

GREATER RESTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GREATER RESTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES

SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES

VIRGINIA TECH VIRGINIA TECH

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

"TheEarthandtheuniversebeyondbelongtoallofus.TheInterstellarDreamsSpaceCenter cultivatesanawarenessofS.T.E.M.careersinaerospace,beyondbeinganastronaut."

Robin

McDougal, M.Ed., MBA Founder & Chief Exploration Officer

Robin McDougal is dedicated to creating a pipeline of top-tier tech professionals ready for theglobalworkforce,especiallyinaerospace.

AnAdvocateforS.T.E.M.literacy,RobinMcDougalistheFounderandChairof

The Pearl Project Institute for Innovation in STEM Literacy and Interstellar Dreams Space CenterlocatedonthecampusofGeorgeMasonUniversity.

Robin is a TEDx Talk Speaker, the designer of BLAZE Online Accelerator for Commercial Space Entrepreneurs, and the host of the BLAZEi Internship for Emerging Aerospace Professionals. In addition, she serves as Editor in Chief of Interstellar Magazine for Commercial Space Entrepreneurs a bimonthly publication with its finger on the pulse of today’sCislunarSpaceEconomy.

Robin was selected to represent Microsoft to serve as, an entrepreneurial facilitator at the 2017 UNLEASH Global Challenge in Copenhagen, Denmark where she led an international team whose challenge was to design and implement solutions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) where her teams won 1st and 3rd place in the globalcompetition.

MICRO-SPACE CENTER

"THE PEARL PROJECT INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATION IN STEM LITERACY is a non-profit organization designed to create a direct pipeline of STEM literate youth ready for the global workforce by fanning the flames of invention and innovation between experts, novice professionals and youth, especially girls." Robin McDougal –Founder

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ROBIN MCDOUGAL, FOUNDER & BOARD CHAIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CARLTON CARTER, PHD BOARD TREASURER

Board of Advisors

AUDIE SERRANO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT-STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

ALLYSON MCDOUGAL, CO-FOUNDER WORKCHEW

LATISHA DURHAM, NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, MARYLAND BOARD SECRETARY

JENNY OH, BUSINESS STRATEGY BOOZE ALLEN HAMILTON

EUGENE MCDOUGAL, RETIRED NATIONAL INSTITUE OF HEALTH

CHIMENE DAVIS, CEO SUBURBAN ENTERTAINMENT

LAUREN STUCKEY, M.ED. MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATOR

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

SANDRA A. CAUFFMAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ASTROPHYSICS DIVISION SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE, NASA HEADQUARTERS

KEVIN TAYLOR, ANA LITK, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GREATER RESTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SAMUEL WIGGINS

COO & EVP BUSINESS INTELLIEGENCE DIVISION SOTERYX CORPORATION

JASMINE LEFLORE MSE, MBA PROJECT ENGINEER

ADVANCED DESIGN COLLINS AEROSPACE

DENNIS PAUL, SENIOR PROJECT LEAD AEROSPACE CORPORATION

CHE' BOLDEN, PRESIDENT & CEO

THE CHARLES F. BOLDEN GROUP

RENEE WYNN, FORMER CIO, NASA (RETIRED)

JOYCE BURNETT, SPACE FORCE OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT

U.S. AIR FORCE PENTAGON

KARL WOOLLEY

GLOBAL REAL-TIME DIRECTOR

ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTS FRAMESTORE

CHEYENNE POLIUS, RESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER

THE ST LUCIA NATIONAL ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

CARLOS NIEDERSTRASSER SENIOR STAFF SYSTEMS ARCHITECT NORTHROP GRUMMAN

CASEY VEATCH PRINCIPAL, VEATCH COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

SHARON REED COMMUNICATION MANAGER FAIRFAX COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

SPONSORS & PARTNERS

SHAUN WIGGINS PRESIDENT & CEO SOTERYX CORPORATION

MCLEE KEROLLE SPACE LAWYER

DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

THE SPACE COURT FOUNDATION INC.

SUSANA MARINO PRESIDENT AND CEO

NOVA HISPANIC AMERICAN CHAMBER