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DURHAM, NC · WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2026 · LIBRARY
SPACE FARMS!
SPACE FARMS! What will our lunar engineers eat while establishing permanence on the Moon? How will we grow mushrooms on Mars? Can cotton germinate in space? How does space agriculture benefit us on Ea…
Freelibrarygardeningsciencetechnologyfoodkidsadults
Fig. 01 — Main Auditorium, Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St)
About the event
SPACE FARMS!
What will our lunar engineers eat while establishing permanence on the Moon? How will we grow mushrooms on Mars? Can cotton germinate in space? How does space agriculture benefit us on Earth?
Join Andrew Rose for an exciting, family-friendly exploration into the rapidly evolving world of space agriculture where science fiction is science fact!
Inspired by work from organizations like NASA and innovative and inspiring companies around the globe (like Interstellar Lab), this interactive talk will introduce audiences to the fascinating challenge of growing food beyond our planet. From leafy greens grown aboard the International Space Station to futuristic systems that can produce protein from air, the future of farming is being written.
Discover:
● How scientists are growing plants in zero/micro gravity
● Why crops like lettuce, radishes, and mushrooms are leading the way
● How space farming technologies are already improving agriculture here on Earth
● What it will take to sustain human permanence on the Moon and Mars
This event is designed to spark curiosity and imagination in students of all ages. Young scholars are invited to think like scientists, engineers, and astronauts as we explore real-world problems (and opportunities) in feeding humanity beyond Earth.
Whether you're a student, parent, educator, or simply curious about the future, this talk will leave you with a new perspective on how food, technology, and exploration are deeply connected.
The same technologies (controlled environment agriculture) that will feed astronauts in space will help solve some of the biggest challenges on Earth like climate change, food security, and resource scarcity.
Andrew Rose is an agricultural futurist. He focuses on projects that benefit people whose parents haven't been born yet. He is an advisor at the BIO-ISAC (www.isac.bio), helping to bring cybersecurity (and related threat) awareness/mitigation/response to the bioeconomy with a focus on the agriculture and food sector. He has served as the Chief Strategy Officer in Residence at the Emerging Technologies Centers, the Chair of the Advisory Council for the Maryland Cybersecurity Association, and a judge for the first two years of the Grow-NY AgInnovation in conjunction with Cornell. Andrew helped found the GIVE Program, a leadership training program in Maryland for rising professionals.
Before the event fly by the Innovation Lab for Space Agriculture - A Simulation in Stations a drop in event exploring what it is like to research plant life and try to garden in outer space on a space station!
Join the Maker STEAM team to explore 4 stations of short activities simulating parts of what space research about agriculture, plants, and gardening looks like on a space station. In these stations, you can use NASA information to:
Pick a (pretend) plant to grow
Set up the growing environment
"Water" the plant
Measure the plant's growth
Each of these stations will be simulations, no actual planting occurring this time! These activities are geared towards ages 5 and up, all ages welcome.
This program is drop-in, no registration required. Please join us between 5pm and 6pm in the Innovation Lab on 3rd floor of Main Library. The stations will take most participants around 20 to 30 minutes to complete. This event is for all ages; children under age 11 must be accompanied by an adult.
Wednesday June 24th starting at 6 pm in the Main Library Auditorium located at 300 North Roxboro Street in Durham.
Parking is available in the library parking lot or at the North Queen Street Garage located at 115 North Queen Street which is behind the apartments directly across the street from the library. Parking at the garage is free. Please bring your parking ticket to a service point for validation.
Registration is appreciated to receive an email reminder, cancellation link, and program updates. Seating is first come first served. Registration does not hold or guarantee a seat.
Questions? Email mkoslofsky@dconc.gov
Image description: A comic book panel illustration from the 1950’s depicting a male astronaut looking out over an expanse of crops being tended by futuristic space technology.