Workshop in Dubai imagines what living on Mars might look like - in pictures

Students were taught how to integrate science, architecture, art and other disciplines to make the red planet fit for human inhabitation

Industrial aerospace designer Dr Raffi Tchakerian, third from left, seen here with Braeden Bihag, Mohammed Fahaam and Adam Abdula, led the Living on Mars workshop at DIDI. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Participants, such as Sewar Srour, seen here, were asked to think about how the red planet can be made habitable for humans. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The pre-college students, such as Sondos Mahmoud, thought about the hobbies we can develop on Mars, how we might play football there, for instance. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Hani Asfour (in black), associate dean at DIDI, looks on as Jatin Aidasani creates his version of life on Mars, rendered using mud, glue, sand, paper and synthetic cloth. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The colour red was obviously a natural choice for most projects. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Aditi Monga sprays her suitably craterous design with red paint. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dr Tchakerian was on hand to mentor the students during the three-day workshop, and taught them research and analytical skills, and how to integrate science, architecture, art and other disciplines. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Toral Jagada with her elaborate project - complete with homes and modes of transportation - at the workshop. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Star Mars group input miniature astronauts in its rendering. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The students returned with a clearer idea of both the challenges and the opportunities that await humankind as we plan to establish inhabitable settlements on Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The three-day workshop Living on Mars was led by industrial aerospace designer, researcher and DIDI faculty member Dr Raffi Tchakerian. It taught participants how to develop concepts of habitation on the red planet, whilst envisioning and creating sustainable settlement proposals that will enable we can survive and create new civilisations in space.

Sass Brown, dean of DIDI, said: "We prepare students to be able to effectively respond to a rapidly changing world and beyond. Nothing is off limits and our Living on Mars workshop proves just this. This type of thinking will help us to nurture the next generation of change-makers, who will be able to conceive and create sustainable design solutions for today’s problems, for the benefit of tomorrow’s society.”

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