What We Believe?
"TheEarthandtheuniversebeyond belongtoallofus. TheInterstellarDreamsSpaceCenter cultivatesanawarenessofS.T.E.M.careers inaerospace,beyondbeinganastronaut."
Robin McDougal, Founder Interstellar Dreams
Who We Are?
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. EXPLORE IMAGINE DESIGN INTERSTELLAR DREAMS SPACE CENTER
"NEVER
MaeC.Jemison,NASAAstronaut,Physician,Engineer
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.
“ People who can dream an interstellar dream can solve problems for humanity.”
Robin McDougal, Founder
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.
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
MICRO-Manufacturing
ExploreImagineDesign
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
MICRO-SPACE CENTER
Grades 6-12
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
SUMMER INSTITUTES
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
INTERNSHIPS
HOME SCHOOL PROGRAMS
PARENT ACADEMIC COACHING
UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE
YOUNG EMERGING ADULTS CORPORATE MODELING CAREER INTERNSHIPS
BLAZE ENTREPRENEURIAL ACCELERATOR
BLAZEI COLLEGE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Micro Space Center Programs
Interstellar Dreams Space Center
ExploreImagineDesign
DR. ARTI VARANASI, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
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
"The
Earthandtheuniversebeyondbelongtoallofus.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.
ExploreImagineDesign
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
"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
LATISHA DURHAM, NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, MARYLAND BOARD SECRETARY
Board of Advisors
AUDIE SERRANO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT-STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
ALLYSON MCDOUGAL, CO-FOUNDER WORKCHEW
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
