Posted by Civilian Mirembe M’Ahar (Director of Terraforming) in Terraforming Young Minds (Tag M’Ahar)

Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in Terraforming Young Minds (Tag M’Ahar)

Posted by Civilian Mirembe M’Ahar (Director of Terraforming) in Terraforming Young Minds (Tag M’Ahar)
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Part of being in charge of the entire education system on the colony was there were a lot of educational needs that had to be met. It wasn’t just the children but adults entering college for the first time or wanting to take classes just for the pure joy of learning or maybe for their job. Also Karina was determined to get her apprenticeship program up and running before the new building was finalized. Oed V was changing and evolving on a daily basis, due in majority part to the terraforming team. She’d made an appointment with the Director of Terraforming and now she was headed to the Science and Terraforming wing of the Rabbitus Memorial School building where she worked. Stepping into the office she smiled at the officer in the lobby and introduced herself. “Good Morning. My name is Karina Enger. I’m the Education Director. I have a meeting with Mirembe M’Ahar.”

Enger, ED

Shortly before Karina waltzed into their humble Terraforming abode, a pair of bright-eyed office assistants sat bickering about the latest episode of the primetime drama, Space Tyranny.

“I’m convinced that mystery man is Siazun’s father,” asserted a stout ginger man, whose crooked smile cast an impish glint about his features. “Why else would he be lurking around her shop * doing ‘small favours’? Besides, he’s way too interested in her family to be some stranger.”

“He can’t be!” Scowled his Andorian friend. “Siazun’s father died of Xenopolycythemia, like, ages ago.”

“Maybe he faked his death,” the ginger shrugged. “Don’t you think his ‘death’ was a little too convenient, Ivare? I mean… right before Hasu was going to expose him as a CEREBUS spy, really?”

“That’s not…” Ivare’s lips parted in protest, but their coworker’s frantic thumb jabs at the door silenced them.

“Hello!” He greeted Karina, a broad grin playing across his lips. “Let’s check…” he typed in a few commands, searching the schedule for her name. “There you are! I’ll let Mirembe know you’re here. Feel free to head back.”

Ivare, trying to recover from their close brush with embarrassment, gestured to the open door just a few metres down the hall.

— Ivare and Eunn

Karina nodded her thanks with a smile and headed down the hallway, but right before she was out of sight she turned back. “Mystery man is not her father. That is the gardener. The man who died was his twin.” With a chuckle she headed down the corridor. She had absolutely no idea for sure. She never watched such things until she came to Oed and Jodar and Rondara had left. She’d had time on her hands and had found herself watching out of curiosity. The other teachers loved it. However, Karina did know plot and great literature. It was also fun to throw a monkey wrench in the works. Reaching the door she knocked and upon being admitted she walked over to the woman in the office and held out her hand. “Thank you for seeing me, Director.”

Enger, ED

A collective gasp and a slow descend into further bickering echoed behind Karina.

Mirembe peeled her gaze from a biodome schematic perched on the adjacent display. As soon as Karina stepped in, a smile warped any semblance of concentration that plagued her freckled features. “Director Enger!” M’Ahar rose, her moniker gesture mimicking an open book, apropos for the director’s role. Alas, her companion’s synthetic drawl didn’t quite catch her enthusiasm. “Welcome. Please,” she grasped Karina’s hand in a brief, hearty shake and jabbed her head at an empty chair, “have a seat and tell me what brings you to this side of campus.”

— Mirembe M’Ahar, Terraforming

Karina smiled and touched the tips of her finger to her chin and moved the hand outward toward M’Ahar. “Thank You.” Karina took a seat. She knew some FSL as her people didn’t have their own spoken language and the use of sign helped as they learned. She was not, however, fluent. “The governor was tasked me with restructuring the entire education system of the colony. From our youngest children through university and beyond. So I have come to ask for your input. My first question being what continuing education or enrichment courses would you like to see offered to help your department?”

Enger, ED

A delighted smile touched Mirembe’s lips when prompted about her thoughts for enrichment courses or programmes. “That’s quite the task,” she mused, “but I’m certain you and your team will do wonders.” Mirembe took a heartbeat to gather her thoughts. “There’s more to OED’s revival than a new atmosphere or running water. I’d love to have more community involvement in the process. Maybe after school programmes that teach kids about OED’s past, present and what she can be. Or internships for more advanced students to introduce them to the art of terraforming and planet reclamation.” She waved her hands in part to stop herself from going on a tangent. “We’re pretty isolated right now. Perhaps inspiring young minds could make this process a little more personal.”

— Mirembe M’Ahar, Terraforming

Karina smiled. “What is that Earth saying…A person after my own mind?…No..no..my own heart.” At least she hoped that was the saying. “In addition to new facilities and expanding our continuing education system, we will be implementing a rigorous apprenticeship program. Starting with our toddlers and going all the way through secondary. The younger programs of course will be no more than an hour, one on one with someone. The idea is to teach them about all the things happening in the colony and then give them a chance to learn about how it’s done - in an age appropriate way.”

Enger, ED

“I would be delighted to pass on the word to my team if you’re looking for potential mentors,” Mirembe grinned. Though fuzzy on their experience with young children, Mirembe knew many would jump at the chance to engage with OED’s younger population. Especially Imig. Children somehow melted the cold veneer of the often assertive and “no-nonsense” assistant. Mirembe knew of few better equipped to inspire young minds or make a game of rundowns and mission statements. “Though I’m happy to throw ideas at you, it appears you have quite the programme planned out.” Mirembe leaned back and briefly opened her arms. “How can we help make it a reality?”

— Mirembe M’Ahar, (a very excited) Terraformer

Karina laughed, “Anything and everything. I understand the basics of ter…terraforming, and the sciences that go into it, but I am a history teacher by training. And I have quite the vision for the program. The plan is slowly coming together. I would greatly appreciate you passing this on to your team. I know not everyone gets along with all ages of children. What I would like, since you all are the experts, is see if there are any volunteers to help write the ‘curriculum’ for the apprenticeships and then I will work with them to make sure it meets the educational standards. There will also be an evaluation form. Of course there are safety issues to address, even more with younger children and transportation. And of course background checks.” Karina paused, “I am sorry that is a lot.”

“Oh! Not at all,” Mirembe waved a dismissive hand, “your enthusiasm is contagious. Besides, we’re currently in the process of surveying the planet and previous terraforming initiatives. I suspect some of my team would appreciate a break from numbers and another scientist’s inspired ramblings.” She tapped her fingers thoughtfully against her desk and offered approving nods at Karina’s mention of safety measures and background checks. Though she knew little about her colleagues’ records beyond what they revealed through conversation and action, Mirembe had faith in their characters. “With luck, you’ll have at least a few names on your desk by the end of next week.”

Karina let out a little breath of relief. Not everyone understood her passion for teaching. So many arrogant hentzas had the mentality of ‘those who can’t - teach.’ That was so far form the truth it was disgusting. So it was quite refreshing to meet someone who was enthusiastic about teaching the next generation. “Do you think, perhaps…you or someone from your team would be willing to come spend a day or two talking to the different classes. So much is changing on Oed so rapidly it would be nice for the children to hear from the experts on how their home is changing.”

Mirembe offered Karina a compassionate smile. Though she knew little about the education system, she admired the Director for her devotion to Oed’s current and future generations. Anyone could teach, but only a select few could transform another’s life through knowledge and patience. Mirembe suspected Director Enger was one of those few. “Talk?” M’Ahar echoed, enchanted by the thought of exposing curious minds to the art of terraforming as it applied to Oed and to them. “I would be honoured. Send me dates that work for your team, and I’ll make the time.”

Karina nodded, a huge smile on her face as she tapped away at her PaDD. “There, I have sent messages to all of my lead teachers. As soon as I hear back from them I will send you dates.”

“Then of course there is the college program. I am hoping to get input on which colleges and universities I should be peeking at to that have the best programs for your field. I intend to meet the bar and then raise it.”

Enger, ED

“I relish the day when there’s a solid terraforming programme in the Federation,” Mirembe released a soft but hopeful chuckle. “We’re a motley crew of civilians, engineers and scientists of mixed disciplines driven by a shared fascination with the ‘improbable’. But I’ll see what our science-y folks have to say.” She hesitated. “You know more about what qualifies a programme as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ than I do, but I enjoyed the challenge and opportunity I had as a planetary engineering student at the University of Alpha Centauri. Mind you, this was over twenty years ago, but I figure they’ve only improved.”

— Mirembe M’Ahar, Terraforming

Karina nodded, making notes on her PaDD, “What would a solid program look like to you? What auxiliary or parallel degrees would be offered or combined with such a program?”

Enger, ED

“There’s a misconception that terraforming is founded solely in hard science. We require a fundamental understanding of astrobiology, geosciences, planetary engineering and a handful of adjacent disciplines. But we are not exclusively scientists and engineers.” Mirembe wavered in gathering her thoughts. “Terraformers collaborate across distance, time and professions. We need to be familiar with tools and strategies that encourage interprofessional collaboration so we don’t descend into incessant bickering.” She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “We also require but often lack basic knowledge in sociology and anthropology. How can we create a world unique to residents’ needs without understanding those needs?”

A bashful smile warped her features as she realised how much she dumped on Karina. “Sorry… er… those are just a few ideas. Any would make a wonderful auxiliary or combined degree, but I find a ‘soft’ or ‘people-oriented’ discipline would best compliment a terraforming programme. Terraforming is a people science, so it’s shameful we view folks as a variable and not integral to the art itself.”

— Mirembe M’Ahar, Terraformer

Karina had stopped typing on her PaDD and pulled the stylus out and was writing furiously. She paused and grinned. “Do not be. This is wonderful information. So on top of choosing a ‘hard science’ discipline for terraforming, basic education classes across all disciplines should include introductory courses to sociology, anthropology, project and collaborative leadership. Perhaps even xeno-psychology?” This was the type of information she was looking for. Things that would make their new curriculums robust and set the standard across the quadrants for excellence. “What about art, architecture or cultural studies, when considering how the world needs to fit the needs of future inhabitants?”

Enger, ED