Growing Beyond Earth® for Australian Schools

Engaging students in classroom-based citizen science designed to advance research on growing plants for space.

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Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV), in partnership with La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food (LISAF) and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (US), invite Victorian Schools to register their interest to be part of the 2024 Growing Beyond Earth® Program for Australian schools.

This unique STEM learning program is a classroom-based citizen science project, designed to advance NASA research on growing plants in space. It includes a series of plant experiments conducted by students in a specially designed plant growth chamber, similar to the ‘Vegetable Production System’ (Veggie) on the International Space Station.

As part of the Growing Beyond Earth Australian pilot program in 2024, schools will:

  • Receive specialised online training from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens to learn experiment procedures and protocols on Friday 8th March 2024.
  • Be provided with a plant growth chamber and discover how to set up and conduct the research experiments at school across Terms 2 and 3.
  • Hear from RBGV and LISAF plants scientists and attend an optional excursion at La Trobe University’s AgriBio laboratories on 19th April 2024, to learn about the Plants for Space program in Australia.
  • Receive ongoing support throughout the program from RBGV, Fairchild and LISAF.
  • Be part of the Growing Beyond Earth school community in Australia, with the option of joining Fairchild's Global Student GBE Symposium online.
  • Be invited to share and celebrate their Growing Beyond Earth experience in Term 4.

Additional information:

  • The online teacher training is a pre-requisite for at least one teacher to attend from all participating schools.
  • This program is aimed at secondary education level - Year 9/10 recommended.

*The Growing Beyond Earth for Australian Schools program is FREE for schools to participate. This includes the growth chamber, training, and excursions. Transport costs incurred by schools are excluded.

Expression of Interest

Registrations close Wednesday 21st February 2024.

Please register using the button below.

Register Now

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