Relatively speaking, however, they are still far behind the STEM disciplines in terms of recognized importance, as exemplified in the social media and literature. While the arts have received renewed attention, the social sciences and humanities are only recently beginning to receive their just due. The arts are important as exemplified by the STEAM movement, which adds the arts to STEM, and the arts have always been a part of the astrosociology multidisciplinary academic structure. This includes disciplines and fields such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, history, archeology, and all of the humanities and arts. For brevity from this point forward, whenever the term “social sciences” is presented alone, it also refers to all non-physical and non-natural sciences (as does the term “astrosociology”). Specifically, this theme emphasizes the need for convergence between the two branches with regard to space issues. the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and arts). Thus, a major theme of this chapter is the emphasis on the two branches of science (i.e., the physical and natural sciences vs. Social science matters on Earth and elsewhere ! People are involved, with all their complexities and variations in beliefs, priorities, and behaviors”. It is important to remember that “expanding the human presence into space is about more than machines and missions. On arrival, a safe physical habitat is essential, but a safe social environment within it is essential as well.
Arriving safely is only part of the problem, and it importantly involves a great amount social-scientific input.
However, getting to Mars represents only part of the equation to help settlers to survive and thrive. Rockets and rocket scientists will be critical for getting humans to Mars, as will be those from the other STEM disciplines (i.e., the physical and natural sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Collaboration on a much more extensive basis is already overdue. Astrosociology is a multidisciplinary academic field that studies issues related to space exploration, settlement, and other issues from social-scientific perspective, and it is complementary to the so-called “hard” sciences. On Earth, the social sciences are vital and they will be on Mars as well. In contrast, the arguments made here support the idea that planning for Martian settlements must include the “other” branch of science, and this extends to the monitoring of social interactions and other forces associated with the complexities generated by a growing population existing in an isolated and dangerous ecosystem on another planet. The current focus on settling Mars is on transportation issues and physical infrastructure construction of habitats or cities. The particular focus here deals with the vital need to balance planning for Martian settlements between the two major branches of science. This chapter focuses on the importance and need to focus much more strongly on the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and arts regarding the study of space issues, and Mars issues specifically.
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