To our 2024 contest participants - THANK YOU!

The application window for Genes in Space 2024 closed on April 15th, and we're still buzzing from the incredible quality of proposals we received! It was evident that our contestants possessed a genuine passion for space exploration and were eager to present creative ideas for space biology experiments. We are truly grateful to every single one of the 945 students who participated!

This year, the contest had its broadest reach yet, receiving submissions from a record 231 schools in 38 states and territories! We're thrilled that so many teachers are bringing molecular biology into their classrooms and inviting their students to consider the challenges and opportunities of living and working in space.

Selecting just one winning experiment from such a talented pool will be a formidable task, but we're excited to keep exploring these proposals. Ideas spanned a wide range of topics, from using nanoparticles to deliver medicines, to environmental monitoring of so-called "forever chemicals" aboard the ISS, to novel treatments to counteract bone and muscle loss in astronauts. We were impressed by the sheer ingenuity on display! Every experiment was truly inspiring, and reviewing them over the past two weeks has been both a privilege and a joy.

While the final selection for the space-bound experiment is still underway, we're excited to announce the next steps in recognizing your hard work. Watch this space! Later today, we'll be revealing the list of our Constellation Awards, the schools that contributed the highest number of student entries! On Thursday, we'll reveal our list of Semifinalists, the 30 top submissions that are moving forward in the competition. And on Friday, we'll announce our Junior Scientist Awards, for our top middle school proposals. Remember, regardless of the final outcome, your ideas have ignited the imaginations of our review panel and have pushed the boundaries of what's achievable in space biology research.

Ad astra,

The Genes in Space Team