Potential future space-farers will discover how to grow plants for interplanetary travel, as part of a National Science Week event held by the University of Adelaide's ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S).
The Martian Garden is an immersive experience which delves into the challenges and innovative solutions required for growing plants in space to ensure a nutritious and varied food supply to sustain the physical and mental wellbeing of future off-world inhabitants.
Plants for Space student Charlotte Bampton at the Vertical Farm at the University of Adelaide's Waite campus.
Attendees will be guided through four interactive "research" stations – Space Garden, Space Plants, Space Robots and Space Food – with Mars rovers roaming outside.
Humankind is on the precipice of an exciting future of habitation in extreme environments on the Moon and Mars, and missions to these celestial bodies will pave the way for sustainable living on and beyond Earth. The Martian Garden will offer a glimpse into this pioneering journey.
Source: adelaide.edu.au