what is our impact locally nationally internationally universally did you know
internationally universally did you know
internationally universally did you know that a Botanic Garden right here in
that a Botanic Garden right here in
that a Botanic Garden right here in Miami is having an impact beyond our
Miami is having an impact beyond our
Miami is having an impact beyond our planet
planet
planet well Fairchild tropical Botanic Garden
well Fairchild tropical Botanic Garden
well Fairchild tropical Botanic Garden is and it all started with an ancient
is and it all started with an ancient
is and it all started with an ancient story of a group of people who felt the
story of a group of people who felt the
story of a group of people who felt the need to escape thousands of years ago a
need to escape thousands of years ago a
need to escape thousands of years ago a group of explorers set out to colonize a
group of explorers set out to colonize a
group of explorers set out to colonize a new land leaving Asia and small
new land leaving Asia and small
new land leaving Asia and small seafaring canoes these brave travelers
seafaring canoes these brave travelers
seafaring canoes these brave travelers were in search of a new home no one knew
were in search of a new home no one knew
were in search of a new home no one knew why they left whether it was war or
why they left whether it was war or
why they left whether it was war or famine or just curiosity taking with
famine or just curiosity taking with
famine or just curiosity taking with them only what they could carry they had
them only what they could carry they had
them only what they could carry they had to make some difficult decisions without
to make some difficult decisions without
to make some difficult decisions without knowing where they were going and what
knowing where they were going and what
knowing where they were going and what they would find when they got there they
they would find when they got there they
they would find when they got there they chose plants specifically seeds and
chose plants specifically seeds and
chose plants specifically seeds and cuttings of plants that were important
cuttings of plants that were important
cuttings of plants that were important culturally medicinally for food and for
culturally medicinally for food and for
culturally medicinally for food and for building materials you can actually
building materials you can actually
building materials you can actually follow their journey based on the plants
follow their journey based on the plants
follow their journey based on the plants found along the way today we know these
found along the way today we know these
found along the way today we know these people as the ancient Polynesians and
people as the ancient Polynesians and
people as the ancient Polynesians and those plants those plants are some of
those plants those plants are some of
those plants those plants are some of Hawaii’s most important crops like
Hawaii’s most important crops like
Hawaii’s most important crops like bamboo or sugar cane or coconuts that
bamboo or sugar cane or coconuts that
bamboo or sugar cane or coconuts that was the story that I told during my
was the story that I told during my
was the story that I told during my initial meeting with the scientists
initial meeting with the scientists
initial meeting with the scientists engineers and directors at NASA’s
engineers and directors at NASA’s
engineers and directors at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center that made the
Kennedy Space Center that made the
Kennedy Space Center that made the director of human space exploration say
director of human space exploration say
director of human space exploration say wow that’s like our mission to Mars and
wow that’s like our mission to Mars and
wow that’s like our mission to Mars and it was then we knew that we had a new
it was then we knew that we had a new
it was then we knew that we had a new era of education and research at
era of education and research at
era of education and research at fairchild tropical botanic garden what
fairchild tropical botanic garden what
fairchild tropical botanic garden what we proposed was to assist NASA
we proposed was to assist NASA
we proposed was to assist NASA scientists in testing crop options for
scientists in testing crop options for
scientists in testing crop options for growth on the International Space
growth on the International Space
growth on the International Space Station by engaging our huge network of
Station by engaging our huge network of
Station by engaging our huge network of thousands of middle and high school
thousands of middle and high school
thousands of middle and high school students that were already engaged in
students that were already engaged in
students that were already engaged in Fairchild’s award-winning environmental
Fairchild’s award-winning environmental
Fairchild’s award-winning environmental science program the Fairchild challenge
science program the Fairchild challenge
science program the Fairchild challenge and this was something that had never
and this was something that had never
and this was something that had never been done before and it all started with
been done before and it all started with
been done before and it all started with a simple garden crop red romaine lettuce
a simple garden crop red romaine lettuce
a simple garden crop red romaine lettuce red romaine lettuce met all of the
red romaine lettuce met all of the
red romaine lettuce met all of the criteria set forth by NASA for growth on
criteria set forth by NASA for growth on
criteria set forth by NASA for growth on the on the space station
the on the space station
the on the space station it grows in small spaces thrives under
it grows in small spaces thrives under
it grows in small spaces thrives under LED lights produces large amounts of
LED lights produces large amounts of
LED lights produces large amounts of edible biomass and provides vitamins not
edible biomass and provides vitamins not
edible biomass and provides vitamins not found in processed diets now currently
found in processed diets now currently
found in processed diets now currently at NASA Kennedy Space Center they’ve
at NASA Kennedy Space Center they’ve
at NASA Kennedy Space Center they’ve been testing a very small variety of
been testing a very small variety of
been testing a very small variety of plants over that the years that they’ve
plants over that the years that they’ve
plants over that the years that they’ve been doing this but with fair child’s
been doing this but with fair child’s
been doing this but with fair child’s expertise we were able to expand those
expertise we were able to expand those
expertise we were able to expand those options to date students middle and high
options to date students middle and high
options to date students middle and high school students have tested 91 varieties
school students have tested 91 varieties
school students have tested 91 varieties that meet these criteria some of those
that meet these criteria some of those
that meet these criteria some of those that we suggested were plants that were
that we suggested were plants that were
that we suggested were plants that were known for their use in long-distance
known for their use in long-distance
known for their use in long-distance travel this this is tetra Gonia tetra
travel this this is tetra Gonia tetra
travel this this is tetra Gonia tetra Gonia was used by Captain Cook on the
Gonia was used by Captain Cook on the
Gonia was used by Captain Cook on the Endeavour to prevent scurvy amongst his
Endeavour to prevent scurvy amongst his
Endeavour to prevent scurvy amongst his crew the smart scientists at Fairchild
crew the smart scientists at Fairchild
crew the smart scientists at Fairchild also knew that this plant was high in
also knew that this plant was high in
also knew that this plant was high in vitamin K and vitamin K is very
vitamin K and vitamin K is very
vitamin K and vitamin K is very important in preventing bone mass loss
important in preventing bone mass loss
important in preventing bone mass loss something that astronauts face all the
something that astronauts face all the
something that astronauts face all the time now our biggest challenge was to
time now our biggest challenge was to
time now our biggest challenge was to replicate the state-of-the-art and very
replicate the state-of-the-art and very
replicate the state-of-the-art and very expensive growth chamber found on the
expensive growth chamber found on the
expensive growth chamber found on the International Space Station with
International Space Station with
International Space Station with something that was more cost effective
something that was more cost effective
something that was more cost effective for a nonprofit organization and could
for a nonprofit organization and could
for a nonprofit organization and could also withstand the wear and tear of a
also withstand the wear and tear of a
also withstand the wear and tear of a school classroom imagine that
school classroom imagine that
school classroom imagine that using only store-bought materials
using only store-bought materials
using only store-bought materials Home Depot Lowe’s blick art supplies we
Home Depot Lowe’s blick art supplies we
Home Depot Lowe’s blick art supplies we were actually able to replicate that
were actually able to replicate that
were actually able to replicate that growth chamber the only thing that we
growth chamber the only thing that we
growth chamber the only thing that we couldn’t replicate was zero gravity but
couldn’t replicate was zero gravity but
couldn’t replicate was zero gravity but the scientist at NASA told us don’t
the scientist at NASA told us don’t
the scientist at NASA told us don’t worry about it when we get to Mars
worry about it when we get to Mars
worry about it when we get to Mars they’ll be gravity who’d have thought
now to date we have homemade growth
now to date we have homemade growth chambers and a hundred and thirty-five
chambers and a hundred and thirty-five
chambers and a hundred and thirty-five middle and high schools across South
middle and high schools across South
middle and high schools across South Florida were there testing research
Florida were there testing research
Florida were there testing research protocols that were designed in
protocols that were designed in
protocols that were designed in partnership with NASA scientist dr.
partnership with NASA scientist dr.
partnership with NASA scientist dr. Gioia Massa where students are testing
Gioia Massa where students are testing
Gioia Massa where students are testing these different varieties in this
these different varieties in this
these different varieties in this homemade growth chamber something unique
homemade growth chamber something unique
homemade growth chamber something unique all the while using that red romaine
all the while using that red romaine
all the while using that red romaine lettuce as their control
now since the Fairchild challenge the
now since the Fairchild challenge the program that this was being implemented
program that this was being implemented
program that this was being implemented in is a program that is facilitated by
in is a program that is facilitated by
in is a program that is facilitated by teachers it was very important for us to
teachers it was very important for us to
teachers it was very important for us to make sure that the teachers were
make sure that the teachers were
make sure that the teachers were comfortable with the material that we
comfortable with the material that we
comfortable with the material that we were providing it was a new level of
were providing it was a new level of
were providing it was a new level of rigor in research that they had never
rigor in research that they had never
rigor in research that they had never done before NASA scientists agreed to
done before NASA scientists agreed to
done before NASA scientists agreed to come to Fairchild and train the teachers
come to Fairchild and train the teachers
come to Fairchild and train the teachers very helpful and what happened was
very helpful and what happened was
very helpful and what happened was amazing students who had never grown
amazing students who had never grown
amazing students who had never grown anything were propagating plants in
anything were propagating plants in
anything were propagating plants in their classroom and these same students
their classroom and these same students
their classroom and these same students were contributing actively contributing
were contributing actively contributing
were contributing actively contributing to real-world research and that was
to real-world research and that was
to real-world research and that was powerful and on top of all of that the
powerful and on top of all of that the
powerful and on top of all of that the schools were contributing thousands of
schools were contributing thousands of
schools were contributing thousands of points of data to the scientists at NASA
points of data to the scientists at NASA
points of data to the scientists at NASA so that they could use that information
so that they could use that information
so that they could use that information to make determinations of what was going
to make determinations of what was going
to make determinations of what was going to be grown next in space with the help
to be grown next in space with the help
to be grown next in space with the help of middle and high school students now
of middle and high school students now
of middle and high school students now at Fairchild it is our philosophy that
at Fairchild it is our philosophy that
at Fairchild it is our philosophy that your science is only as good as you can
your science is only as good as you can
your science is only as good as you can communicate it and it was very important
communicate it and it was very important
communicate it and it was very important for us to want to share this information
for us to want to share this information
for us to want to share this information what we were doing but how are we gonna
what we were doing but how are we gonna
what we were doing but how are we gonna do that in a way that resonated with
do that in a way that resonated with
do that in a way that resonated with teenagers social media specifically
teenagers social media specifically
teenagers social media specifically Twitter we had asked all of our schools
Twitter we had asked all of our schools
Twitter we had asked all of our schools to regularly tweet scientifically
to regularly tweet scientifically
to regularly tweet scientifically relevant tweets so that we could share
relevant tweets so that we could share
relevant tweets so that we could share with the world what they were doing
with the world what they were doing
with the world what they were doing but it was the unintended outcomes that
but it was the unintended outcomes that
but it was the unintended outcomes that were most surprising we were able to
were most surprising we were able to
were most surprising we were able to have a snapshot into all 35 classrooms
have a snapshot into all 35 classrooms
have a snapshot into all 35 classrooms on a regular basis to ensure that they
on a regular basis to ensure that they
on a regular basis to ensure that they were following the research protocols
were following the research protocols
were following the research protocols that they were they were having good
that they were they were having good
that they were they were having good success with their plans and be able to
success with their plans and be able to
success with their plans and be able to have regular regular communications with
have regular regular communications with
have regular regular communications with them and in addition those schools and
them and in addition those schools and
them and in addition those schools and those students were able to showcase to
those students were able to showcase to
those students were able to showcase to the entire world to the research
the entire world to the research
the entire world to the research community that middle and high school
community that middle and high school
community that middle and high school students using essentially homemade
students using essentially homemade
students using essentially homemade materials in their classrooms in South
materials in their classrooms in South
materials in their classrooms in South Florida were able to replicate and have
Florida were able to replicate and have
Florida were able to replicate and have results that were consistent with what
results that were consistent with what
results that were consistent with what was going on on the international space
was going on on the international space
was going on on the international space station now for NASA this was tremendous
station now for NASA this was tremendous
station now for NASA this was tremendous they were able to test thousands of
they were able to test thousands of
they were able to test thousands of different sow thousands of pieces of
different sow thousands of pieces of
different sow thousands of pieces of data they were able to test 20 times as
data they were able to test 20 times as
data they were able to test 20 times as many varieties of plants than they ever
many varieties of plants than they ever
many varieties of plants than they ever had the option of testing and with that
had the option of testing and with that
had the option of testing and with that they recognized that this was very
they recognized that this was very
they recognized that this was very important to continuing their research
important to continuing their research
important to continuing their research in August of 2016 they awarded Fairchild
in August of 2016 they awarded Fairchild
in August of 2016 they awarded Fairchild a grant for 1.25 million dollars to
a grant for 1.25 million dollars to
a grant for 1.25 million dollars to continue our research
an incredible labor of love to write a
an incredible labor of love to write a grant to NASA for sure and what we’re
grant to NASA for sure and what we’re
grant to NASA for sure and what we’re able to do now is what the Fairchild
able to do now is what the Fairchild
able to do now is what the Fairchild challenge is truly all about we want to
challenge is truly all about we want to
challenge is truly all about we want to be able to level the playing field and
be able to level the playing field and
be able to level the playing field and be able to offer all of the equipment
be able to offer all of the equipment
be able to offer all of the equipment and all of the resources that the
and all of the resources that the
and all of the resources that the schools will need to do this research
schools will need to do this research
schools will need to do this research free of charge no matter what your
free of charge no matter what your
free of charge no matter what your school is no matter where you’re located
school is no matter where you’re located
school is no matter where you’re located so now we’re able to do that but for
so now we’re able to do that but for
so now we’re able to do that but for Fairchild the impacts are endless by
Fairchild the impacts are endless by
Fairchild the impacts are endless by tapping into our history of exploration
tapping into our history of exploration
tapping into our history of exploration the plant expertise that Fairchild is
the plant expertise that Fairchild is
the plant expertise that Fairchild is known for and our huge network of
known for and our huge network of
known for and our huge network of environmentally minded junior scientists
environmentally minded junior scientists
environmentally minded junior scientists were able to escape the notion that
were able to escape the notion that
were able to escape the notion that botany is a finished science to offer
botany is a finished science to offer
botany is a finished science to offer infinite possibilities of where we go
infinite possibilities of where we go
infinite possibilities of where we go next
next
next thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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