Have you ever wondered how crops might grow on the moon? With their teachers leading the way, students across South Carolina, and the entire world, are trying to answer just that.
The goal is to determine the best methods for growing sustainable, nutrient-rich food for future astronauts. Participants execute this by designing an experiment where they manipulate variables in the growing process, such as the amount and type of nutrients and fertilizers. The experiment is conducted using lunar soil simulant provided by the University of Central Florida's CLASS Exolith Lab.
Annie Johnson and Katie Thompson with Academy for the Arts, Science, & Technology in Myrtle Beach were excited to share their experiences with the Plant the Moon Challenge:
“We had 7 teams of seniors participate in the Plant the Moon Challenge this year - 3 teams from the Environmental Engineering major and 4 from the Aerospace Engineering major. The creativity and collaboration among the students was remarkable. They are given the task of growing crops in the lunar regolith and the rest is up to them to figure out. This authentic, hands-on project provides students the opportunity to build critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and communication skills while helping to solve a real-world problem. As a teacher, it is such a joy to see students excited and proud of their work. Completing the challenge is a major accomplishment.”
These experiments were made possible by the Space Grant Regional Expansion Project, led by Virginia Space Grant Consortium and funded by NASA. The goal of the expansion project is to build upon the Institute of Competitive Sciences Plant the Moon Challenge and increase accessibility to underserved and underrepresented students in the STEM fields in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
In South Carolina, 74 teams in eight counties participated in this season of the challenge. Here are the winners for the state:
Evaluation of Results
- Middle School – Santa Squashers from Tall Pines STEM Academy in Aiken, led by Stephany Griffin
- High School – Space Botanists B (Interlinked) from the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville, led by Jennifer Brown
Growth
- Middle School – 4 Girls and a Guy from the Tall Pines STEM Academy in Aiken, led by Stephany Griffin
- High School – Astro-Pots from the Academy for Arts, Science, and Technology in Myrtle Beach, led by Annie Johnson
Experimental Design
- Middle School – Shooting Stars from Tall Pines STEM Academy in Aiken, led by Stephany Griffin
- High School – Growthmaxxers from the Academy for the Arts, Science, and Technology in Myrtle Beach, led by Katherine Thompson
Innovation
- Middle School – Pink Astronauts from Tall Pines Academy in Aiken, led by Stephany Griffin
- High School – Space Botanists A (Space Consortium for Analyzing Waste) from the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville, led by Jennifer Brown
Approximately 900 students participated this year around the world, and the hope is for even more next season, starting in spring 2025.
For a full list of international, regional, and state winners, visit: https://vsgc.odu.edu/plantthemoon/
For more information about the Plant the Moon Challenge, including how to participate, please visit: https://plantthemoon.com/
