Limerick Institute of Technology has been announced as one of eight winners in a global research competition that will see a project from the Mid-West carried on an International Space Station (ISS) mission next year. The LIT research project is exploring how the critical process by which naturally occurring bacteria fertilise plants may be improved.
The research project was selected as one of eight applications for the Space Florida ISS research competition, which was open to commercial and academic research programmes worldwide. The winners were chosen on the strength of their commercial viability and overall benefit to mankind.
The LIT Project, entitled "Symbioitic Nodulation in a Reduced Gravity Environment", will involve a bacteria carrying, clover-like plant being flown to the ISS next year where its reaction in space will be analysed by astronauts in the ISS lab over a five week period.
"This is a great privilege for me, for the CELLS Laboratory and LIT," said Professor Stutte, principle investigator, LIT. "Being one of just eight applicants globally chosen for this research space mission is a huge statement and validation for the progressive and critical nature of our research programme. Having our research fly to the ISS and being able to partner and mix with elite organisations in this area such as NanoRacks, NASA and ISS is a stepping stone to bigger and better things for science, research and innovation at LIT."
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