Welcome
to Tomatosphere!
Registration is now open for 2007.
Due to overwhelming feedback from the teachers of the more than 7400 classrooms involved in the project in 2006, the Tomatosphere Project Team will continue offering this stellar learning opportunity in 2007. Seeds will be provided in the spring of 2007 for spring (or fall) planting. The seed treatments have not been finalized but will be in the very near future.
The basics of Tomatosphere will remain; a “blind” test in which you and your students will not know the origin of the seeds until completion of the germination process and submission of results. Students will learn how to conduct a scientific experiment and compare the germination rates of the seeds. They may also report on the growth and development of their plants... and may be inspired to pursue further education in science and technology.
Watching these seeds grow will encourage classroom dialogue about the elements of life support requirements to space missions - food, water, oxygen and the need to consume carbon dioxide exhaled by crew members. Traveling to and from Mars – the closest planet to Earth – could take almost three years. It's imperative to know how to grow food for the journey there, the stay on Mars and the return journey. The results from your science experiments will help in understanding these issues related to long-term space travel
Tomatoes are practical and valuable plants for space applications. They provide wholesome nourishment, as well as purified water through evaporation from their leaves. Today's students are the plant specialists, space scientists and Mars explorers of the future! The technical support staff and even the astronauts for future space travel may be in your classroom today!
Tomatosphere is sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, Heinz Canada, Ontario Centres of Excellence, the University of Guelph,and Stokes Seeds.
