Other Worlds
Other Worlds provides an astrobiology-based curriculum specifically designed for institutionalized youth.
Delivered over a 4-week period at the CAPE School within the Pima County Juvenile Detention Center, the program operates in close collaboration with Sky School and the Arizona AstroBiology Center.
Other Worlds Mission
To empower students to escape the limits of their current reality and imagine new futures by engaging with the wonder and possibility of space science.
The Challenge
While all incarcerated youth are guaranteed access to education by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, STEM subjects are not always included in their curricula. This creates a significant gap in opportunity for a highly vulnerable population.
- Nationally, more than half of incarcerated youth read and perform math below the level expected for their age [1].
- Approximately 60% of these youth have repeated a grade level [1].
- In Arizona, the stakes are incredibly high; as of January 2025, the juvenile recidivism rate stands at a staggering 49.5% within 24 months of release [2].
However, there is a proven path forward. Studies consistently demonstrate that engaging in educational programs while in custody greatly reduces a student’s chances of reoffending [3, 4].
Our Approach
We move beyond traditional lectures by exposing students to basic concepts from physics, astronomy, biology, chemistry, and ecology to considerably expand the CAPE School's core curriculum. Instruction is highly interactive and relies on two core teaching methods:
Project-Based Learning: Students transform their understanding into tangible outcomes by applying knowledge to real-world case studies. For instance, students might design a complete planetary mission, detailing the specific type of telescope, imaging techniques, and target planet they would study.
Problem-Based Learning: We challenge students to analyze and interpret complex, interdisciplinary questions. Through qualitative discussions, students explore questions such as how planetary atmospheres might be affected by solar or volcanic activity.
Program Impact
Since launching in Fall 2025, Other Worlds has been actively working to improve access to STEM education and resources for institutionalized youth in Southern Arizona. By engaging students with interactive activities, we challenge them to think critically and creatively.
Through the Other Worlds curriculum, students directly benefit by:
Learning what astrobiology is and discovering the various scientific fields that contribute to it.
Exploring present and future astrobiology-focused missions and uncovering potential career paths within STEM.
Improving their problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and sense of individuality and inclusion within STEM fields.
To ensure Other Worlds is effective, we are rigorously measuring program outcomes. We utilize entrance and exit surveys to track the evolution of our students' feelings of competency, purpose, and comfort with science throughout the program. Ultimately, we hope these educational outcomes will increase awareness of STEM jobs, boost student transitions into new schools, and help reduce youth recidivism in Pima County.
Partners and Team
Co-Directors
Kayla Smith
PhD Student, Planetary Sciences
kaylasmith1@arizona.edu
Cole Meyer
PhD Student, Planetary Sciences
cmmeyer@arizona.edu
Pilot Instructors
Kayla Smith — PhD Student, Planetary Sciences
Lily Robinthal — PhD Student, Planetary Sciences
Lauren James — Education and Engagement Manager, Arizona AstroBiology Center
Staff Mentors
David Austin — Director, University of Arizona Sky School
Lauren James — Education and Engagement Manager, Arizona AstroBiology Center
Curriculum Developers
Anna Taylor — PhD Student, Planetary Sciences
Mruthyunjay “Jay” Kubendran Sumathi — PhD Student, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Nicole Kerrison — PhD Student, Planetary Sciences
Iunn Ong — PhD Student, Planetary Sciences
SoRi La — PhD Student, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Miranda LaZar — PhD, Archaeology
Kylie Hall — PhD Student, Planetary Sciences
Gowri Somasekhar — PhD Student, Neuroscience
Ruby Fulford — PhD Student, Planetary Sciences
References
The Council of State Governments Justice Center. (2015). Locked Out: Improving Educational and Vocational Outcomes for Incarcerated Youth.
Hobbs, K., Sargent, D. (2025). Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. Just the Facts, February 2025.
Lipsey, M., Howell, J., Kelly, M., Chapman, G., Carver, D. (2010). Center for Juvenile Justice Reform. Improving the Effectiveness of Juvenile Justice Programs.
Hill, A. (2015). Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Education Reduces Recidivism.
Other Worlds is supported in part through the Arizona NASA Space Grant Consortium, Cooperative Agreement 80NSSC20M0041 and 80NSSC25M7084.