High School - Challenge 6: - Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

GRADES 9 to 12 | 2025-2026

Challenge 6: Growing Beyond Earth®

YOUR CHALLENGE:

As NASA looks toward a long-term human presence beyond Earth’s orbit, there are specific science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) challenges related to food production in space. Established in 2015 as a partnership between Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and NASA’s Exploration Research and Technology Programs, Growing Beyond Earth enables student community scientists to actively contribute data toward NASA mission planning.

New Schools will conduct the following experiment:

Novel Crops – Research Protocols to be shared during mandatory teacher workshop

Returning schools will choose on of the following experiments:

Novel Crops: Extended Growth Period
Neighboring Effect
Water Stress
Fruiting Crops

Download information as one page with lesson plan

To participate in GBE, you are required to attend a mandatory teacher training (virtual or in-person).

Experiment-specific protocols and materials will be distributed after the training to those who attend. Register by August 29th!

Workshops for Teachers NEW to GBE (must attend one)

Virtual Workshop – September 10th, 6-9pm

Virtual Workshop – September 12th, 9am-12pm

In-person Workshop – September 27th @ Fairchild, 1-4pm

Workshops for Returning GBE Teachers (must attend one)

Virtual Workshop – September 3rd, 6-8pm

Virtual Workshop – September 19th, 2:30pm-4:30pm

In-person Workshop – September 27th @ Fairchild, 1-4pm

✓ Submission Requirements to earn Fairchild Challenge points:
	Teachers must register to attend a mandatory workshop led by NASA and GBE facilitators. Those teachers registered for the workshop must submit a Lease Agreement if they plan to participate in this challenge. **If you cannot make it to the mandatory in-person workshop but would still like to participate in this Challenge, please reach out to the Challenge team at challenge@fairchildgarden.org Those teachers registered for the workshop must submit a Lease Agreement if they plan to participate in this challenge.
	Trial 1 + 2 data sheets. – Submitted to GBE portal
	Proposal Student designed, original research project informed by Trial data. Proposal utilizes the provided template with all sections completed. Proposal includes a bibliography citing 3 sources, MLA or APA format.
	Presentation at GBE Symposium More details to come!
	One set of Fairchild Challenge points earned per high school.

CHALLENGE RESOURCES:

Important Dates

MANDATORY WORKSHOP (see dates in the Challenge description)

**If you are unable to attend the mandatory workshop, please notify the Challenge team at challenge@fairchildgarden.org

Trial 1 Data Due:
Friday, November 21, 2025 by 5:00pm

Trial 2 Proposal Due:
Friday, December 12, 2025 by 5:00pm

Trial 2 Data Due:
Friday, March 20, 2026 by 5:00pm

Trial 2 Research Presentation Due:
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 by 5:00pm

Research Symposium:
Saturday, April 11, 2026

Point Breakdown
Participants per submission	Group
Maximum number of points per submission	300 max 150 for required Trial 1 data AND Trial 2 proposal 50 for Trial 2 data 100 for submitting a presentation and presenting at the GBE Symposium
Number of submissions per school	1

Fairchild City in a Garden Standards

Scientific Output

This website is based upon the work supported by NASA under grant award No. 80NCCS22M0125. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.