Growing Food in Space

The Great Exhibition Road Festival is a free annual celebration of science and the arts in South Kensington.

Great Exhibition Road Festival

Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, hosts scientists and an experimental chef to explore the evolving science of space food.

Imperial College London, Room G16, Sir Alexander Fleming Building

Spotlight on Science

Hear from leading scientists and researchers at the Great Exhibition Road Festival's spectacular Spotlight on Science talk series.

Thank you for your interest in this event. Ticket sales have now closed but you can find out about more events celebrating science and the arts on the Great Exhibition Road Festival website at www.greatexhibitionroadfestival.co.uk

What will we eat when humanity journeys deeper into space—on months long missions, lunar bases or even the first homes on Mars? At this year’s Great Exhibition Road Festival, Helen Sharman, the first British person in space, tucks into the evolving science of space food. From the early days of squeeze tubes and dehydrated packets to the increasing need to produce fresh food during long duration missions, the challenge is about far more than survival. Food helps keep astronauts healthy, motivated and emotionally connected to life on Earth. But weighty supplies come at an enormous cost—feeding a single astronaut is estimated at around £20,000 per day—so scientists are now exploring entirely new ways to grow food in space. At this panel discussion, featuring scientists and an experimental chef, you will discover how bioreactors being developed with Imperial College London’s Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins could host precision engineered yeasts and microbial fermentation to create nutritious, enjoyable meals in orbit. A breakthrough that may transform not just space exploration, but sustainable food on Earth too!This event is part of the Great Exhibition Road Festival on 6-7 June 2026.Please arrive at the venue 10 minutes before the start time. Your ticket gives you priority access, however, as this is a free event we overbook to help ensure a full event and your space may be reallocated. Early arrival reduces this risk. <h2>Great Exhibition Road Festival</h2>6-7 June 2026South Kensington’s annual celebration of science and the arts returns this summer with a weekend of free events for all ages.Enjoy hands-on workshops, fascinating talks, performances and installations from iconic museums, research and culture organisations in South Kensington, including Imperial College London, the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&amp;A, the Royal Parks, the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 and many more!Find out more about the Festival and see the full programme on the Festival website at <a href="https://www.greatexhibitionroadfestival.co.uk/" title="https://www.greatexhibitionroadfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.greatexhibitionroadfestival.co.uk</a>.

By registering you agree to the processing of your information to manage the event. For more information about how Imperial College London processes your data when you register for the Great Exhibition Road Festival and other events led by Imperial, please read the <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/admin-services/secretariat/information-governance/data-protection/processing-personal-data/privacy-notices/events-privacy-notice/" title="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/admin-services/secretariat/information-governance/data-protection/processing-personal-data/privacy-notices/events-privacy-notice/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Privacy Notice for Imperial College London Events</a>.

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Ticket sales have ended

Growing Food in Space

More events from Great Exhibition Road Festival

Discover more events from Great Exhibition Road Festival, from Community to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in London and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

Ticket sales have ended

Growing Food in Space

More events from Great Exhibition Road Festival

Discover more events from Great Exhibition Road Festival, from Community to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in London and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.