I am a "naturalized" Texan who moved to Houston from Madison, Wisconsin in February, 1991. I had just completed my Ph.D. in Botany/Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and was working for the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics developing hardware to grow plants in space. At that time, NASA Johnson Space Center was steering its life support systems group to develop bio-regenerative (as well as physical/chemical) technologies for long duration human exploration missions. JSC was interested in hiring me because my specialty, "controlled environment agriculture", would be useful in developing systems for growing food for astronauts.

I became lead plant scientist for a project we called the "Early Human Testing Initiative" then later renamed the "Lunar/Mars Life Support Systems Test Project." We performed two major tests where plants were used in part to meet the life support requirements for human test subjects. I now work for NASA's Advanced Life Support Systems Project and am serving as contract monitor for the Biomass Production System of the Bioregenerative Planetary Life Support Systems Test Complex. Click on any of the links below for background.

Internet links for more information: Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics
http://wcsar.engr.wisc.edu/

Controlled Environment Agriculture see
http://www.cals.cornell.edu/dept/flori/cea/programs.html for an example of CEA Programs at Cornell University

Early Human Testing Initiative Phase 1 15-Day Human Test
http://advlifesupport.jsc.nasa.gov/ehti1/ehti1.html

Lunar Mars Life Support Test Project Phase III 90-day Human Test
http://advlifesupport.jsc.nasa.gov/ehti3/ehti3.html

NASA's Advanced Life Support Project
http://ADVLIFESUPPORT.JSC.NASA.GOV/

Bioregenerative Planetary Life Support Systems Test Complex
http://ADVLIFESUPPORT.JSC.NASA.GOV/Bio~Plex/Proj~Desc.htm