Submitted by: Oliver
Read their cover letter:
“Through applying the laws of physics we can grow food more sustainably and efficiently to meet our needs. How often, when you’re walking down the fruit and vegetable aisle, do you stop and think, how is this all grown? How much water, fertiliser and pesticide is used to produce this perfect colour and shape?
Traditional methods of farming require intensive care which are susceptible to crop damage through volatile changes in the weather made more frequent by climate change. I wanted to explore alternative farming techniques that can solve these issues.
That’s how I discovered hydroponics and aeroponics. These systems yield more produce per m², allow all-year-round growing, recycle water, don’t require soil and aren’t influenced by weather. I created two systems from scratch, both growing two varieties of lettuce. While building, I had to consider a variety of factors: water pressure, fluid dynamics, lighting, ionic exchange, statics, gravity and more.
By building and testing these systems, I saw how deeply physics is integrated in every part of the growing process – from capturing sunlight to nutrient distribution. After completing my project, I found that physics isn’t just behind the process, it makes the whole system possible.”