You've got big ideas about how to make life better for lots of people. But are your ideas big enough for a home on Mars?
"NASA this week said it would look to the public for cool ideas on how to build a sustainable environment on Mars," reports Michael Cooney.
"With the Journey to Mars Challenge, NASA wants applicants to describe one or more Mars surface systems or capabilities and operations that are needed to set up and establish a technically achievable, economically sustainable human living space on the red planet. Think air, water, food, communications systems and the like."
The competition should be considered more of a crowdsourcing exercise than a Rockefeller-esque windfall. According to Cooney, "NASA said it expects to make up to three awards at a minimum of $5,000 each from a total award pool of $15,000." Submissions are due on July 6, 2015.
FULL STORY: NASA will award you $5,000 for your finest Mars city idea

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research