During National Science Week, The University of Adelaide’s ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S) is presenting a unique educational event called The Martian Garden. This initiative is designed to educate participants about the cultivation of plants in space, a crucial step towards sustaining life during interplanetary travel. The event will take place on Sunday, 18 August, from 10am to 4pm at the University’s Roseworthy campus on Mudla Wirra Road.
The Martian Garden offers a hands-on learning environment where attendees can explore four interactive stations: Space Garden, Space Plants, Space Robots, and Space Food. Each station provides insights into different aspects of space agriculture, from growing techniques to the technology used for managing plant life in extraterrestrial environments. Additionally, Mars rovers will be demonstrated roaming outside, adding a realistic touch to the simulation of Mars.
The goal of this project is not only educational but also practical, aiming to prepare for a future where humans will live in extreme conditions on the Moon and Mars. This forward-looking approach underpins much of the research and development in space travel, focusing on how to create sustainable living environments in space.
This event is part of a broader range of activities organised by the University of Adelaide for National Science Week, taking place from 10-18 August 2024. Alongside The Martian Garden, the university is hosting several other events aimed at promoting science and technology. These include STEMM in Your Future Workshops at the Adelaide City Library, The Language of Trees at the University of South Australia’s Museum of Discovery, PECAN+ Capture the Flag, and the MedTech Hackathon at the University of Adelaide’s Health and Medical Sciences building and ThincLab.
National Science Week offers a platform for institutions like the University of Adelaide to showcase their contributions to science and technology, encouraging public engagement and education in these fields. The Martian Garden exemplifies how academic institutions can lead in thinking about and preparing for humanity’s future living conditions.
Visitors to The Martian Garden will have the opportunity to learn about the innovations being developed for space that could also help improve sustainability on Earth. It provides a glimpse into how the challenges of space can drive solutions that benefit both future space missions and life on our home planet.
For those interested in attending The Martian Garden or any other National Science Week events, additional details are available on the National Science Week website.
WHAT: The Martian Garden
WHERE: Roseworthy campus, University of Adelaide
Mudla Wirra Road, Roseworthy 5371
WHEN: 10am ‘til 4pm—Sunday, 18 August
MORE INFO: Visit the Science Week website here.
More News
