Growing Liveable Worlds: Ethical encounters between human and plant life

This project will generate insights into new ways of living well with plant species. It will do so by asking participants to experience a hydroponics techno-garden, designed as a 'Living Lab'. The project’s living lab will be a living plant room set within the speculative scenario of terraforming Mars, asking: what plants would we take to Mars, and why? The project will seed and establish a range of plants including fragrant herbs, flowers, those with medicinal properties, alongside seeds from plants previously used in space exploration and ancient species such as tree ferns, as part of a ‘garden kit’ that could be exported to Mars. Our focus is to provide participants opportunities for rich, varied and unforeseen encounters with these plants and systems.