Space Dreamers: Bringing Space Science to Students

Bryce Hilliard3 705 — Media Credit: Bryce Hilliard

August 21, 2018 • By Bryce Hilliard

This fall, Bryce Hilliard will start eighth grade at Farmwell Station Middle School in Ashburn, Virginia. Two years ago, after finding out about Tomatosphere and other Space Station Explorers programs, he devised innovative experiments growing tomatoes from space-flown seeds in a hydroponic setup. And he didn’t stop there. He is now starting a nonprofit program focused on space education! “The element of space makes any science experiment cooler,” Hilliard said. Below, he shares his progress and summer adventures.

Read more about Hilliard and how the 2017 International Space Station Research and Development Conference motivated him to get more involved in space science and start his nonprofit space education program in “Planting the Seeds for Space Research and Advocacy in the Scientists of Tomorrow at ISSRDC.”

I have been so busy preparing for back-to-school! This summer, I have been working with seven schools to pilot and launch my Space Dreamers nonprofit organization. We will be bringing space science to more than 8,000 students and 1,800 teachers on day-one of the school year! I have been invited to meet with each school’s teachers before school even starts to help brainstorm, and I am lighting so many sparks!

Bryce Hilliard tomato provided crop 1600 — Media Credit: Bryce Hilliard

I am installing ISS-Above kiosks in public areas of the schools and planning hydroponic gardens to study Tomatosphere plants. I am helping the school libraries order more space-related books as well as the books featured in Story Time From Space. I am also training teachers on spotting the ISSInternational Space Station in the sky so that they can share it with their classes. I am even helping my sister’s elementary school design a new science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lab!

I cannot wait to get these schools started and then have time to expand to reach even more students and teachers! I am excited that so many students will be learning about space. My motto is “space science for every student every day!”

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