For students visiting the Plants for Space Arc Centre of Excellence exhibit at Shepparton Art Museum on Monday, August 12, not even the sky was the limit.
La Trobe, one of many universities partnered with Plants for Space, opened the interactive exhibit to local high-school students, giving them a glimpse of the creation of sustainable off-world ecosystems.
The event focused on the selection and adaptation of plants to survive and thrive in space, with the goal of engaging students and highlighting future career possibilities and pathways.
“The stands were designed to form an environment that kind of mimicked the Martian garden experiments,” La Trobe education and engagement manager Dr Frazer Thorpe said.
“Students went around the gallery space, and kind of simulated some of the experiments people are doing.”
A panel of speakers educated students on the exciting scientific developments and career pathways, with La Trobe student ambassadors helping out.
While plants in space might sound like a faraway thing, the science reveals an on-planet use, one that has the potential to make significant changes for Earth’s future.
“Space is really hard to grow plants in,” Dr Thorpe said.
“You have to think about light, nutrients, water, how they will react to gravity. If you can do that, for space, you can apply it to Earth. You can make really sustainable systems.”
When talking about space, possibilities are boundless, and students’ imaginations soared.
Going even further than just plants, the topic of ‘space cheese’ was also breached, as conversations drifted to 3D-printed foods, vertical farms, the selection of ambassador species for space, new species and more.
“You have to think about how to make food nutritious. How to make it for mental health and physical health,” Dr Thorpe said.
“It was a great event, it was super popular and students had a great time, teachers had a great time. They got to think about things they have never thought about before, which I think is really important.”
Though the exhibit was held for only one day, five schools visited the display.
For more information about the Plants for Space and its mission, visit plants4space.com