FABE students at The Ohio State University earned first place at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland last month. The student team created an innovative design aimed at managing fluids in space for NASA’s 2025-2026 University Student Design Challenge. The challenge encourages college students to develop innovative approaches to NASA mission needs, specializing in various space-themed projects.
Their project looked at methods, media and an experimental setup to test ways of getting moisture and nutrients to plants that are growing in space. The students were able to present their winning designs to center leadership and tour the Zero Gravity Research Facility, where their design could undergo future testing. They were also fortunate enough to hear from NASA Glenn engineers Nancy Hall and John McQuillen, who served as mentors and technical advisors for the students.
Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Professor, Peter Ling, expressed his pride for the students and gratitude for the NASA staff. "It was a great honor to win the NASA Glenn challenge,” said Ling. “The combined two student teams gained valuable experience from working with NASA scientists. Special thanks to John McQuillen of NASA Glenn for valuable scientific input, and Nancy Hall and Coy Bush of NASA Glenn for their programming support."
The teams consisted of John Eisenmann, Delaney Lee, Emma Masters, Sophia Perry, Ghazala Sameer, Salvatore Schille, Lindsey Shimoda and Michel Wilcox Jr.
Congratulations to everyone involved with these projects!