Winners of the Space Provocations Competition Announced
Offers a Fresh Perspectives on Space From the Public
The European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) and Exolaunch have announced the winners of their “Why Space Matters” Competition.
"We are inspired by the young minds who can show that space is not just about technology, but about imagination, creativity, and the bold vision to shape the future."
Jeanne Allarie, Exolaunch
This competition was hosted as part of ESPI’s Space Provocations program at the Universe Pavilion of the 2025 Biennale di Venezia on June 21, 2025, which invited participants to explore and reimagine the intersections between space, policy, and art.
The competition asked participants to submit their response to the question "Why Space Matters?" in 120 characters or less for a chance to win a custom-built "light saber".
The winning submissions were submitted by Ashton Hawkins and Luca Iaboni which stood out for their creativity and insight, showing that space is not only about technology and exploration, but also about imagination, artistic vision, and the future of humanity.
"Exploring space is so important for creating innovations that drive humanity forward, and eventually go multi-planetary," Aston, 14, wrote.
"Because only traveling outward can we journey inward in search of an answer to the ultimate question: who are we?" Luca, 57, submitted.
"At Exolaunch, we launch dreams into orbit. Partnering with ESPI on the Why Space Matters competition at the Universe Pavilion of the 2025 Venice Biennale has been a true honor," said Exolaunch spokesperson Jeanne Allarie. "We are inspired by the young minds who can show that space is not just about technology, but about imagination, creativity, and the bold vision to shape the future - those who dare to dream big, push boundaries, and reach for new horizons. It is this courage to think beyond limits and go further that propels us forward, driving exploration and innovation."
The range of submissions received as part of this competition reflected a wide range of sentiments, including “exploration”, “perspective”, and “inspiration” among others.