Robert Rintoul is studying for a joint PhD with the University of Nottingham and University of Adelaide.

I’m a second year PhD student who is currently at Nottingham, with plans to head out to Adelaide this November. I focus on growing the floating aquatic plant duckweed, with the aim of developing it as a next generation food source for astronauts during deep space and lunar missions. I am particularly excited about the LED lighting aspect of my project, where I use different colours of light whilst growing my duckweeds in order to manipulate their growth, nutrition and flavour.

Typically, duckweeds are seen as pond pest, rapidly cover the surfaces of stagnant ponds and starve the water below of light, but I can assure you that they in fact edible. For example, in Thailand it is eaten as a nutrient dense, budget friendly source of protein. Known as ‘Kai Naam’, or eggs of the water, it supplies a fresh but neutral leafy taste to traditional curries, stir fries and salads.

NASA to land duckweed the moon

NASA’s Artemis III mission, proposed for 2026, will land both astronauts and duckweed on the moon. The astronauts are just going for a jolly; however, the duckweed will be under rigorous scientific investigation as part of the Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora (LEAF) payload. Measurements will focus on both growth and photosynthetic parameters of duckweeds whilst under the effects of partial gravity and cosmic radiation - providing valuable insight into plant cultivation on the lunar surface. The development of the LEAF payload directly involves the Plants4Space research consortium, which we are all very excited about.

My joint PhD: a massively valuable experience

Being a part of the joint PhD alliance has been a massively valuable experience so far, having not only the range of expertise from both institutions but the ability to be involved in both research cultures has been amazing. In particular, I see the most benefit from the monthly Nottingham-Adelaide duckweed meetings that I organise. This initially started as a tighter group of those involved directly with my supervisors, but now includes and connects researchers with no prior involvement. This has led to inputs in work ranging from undergraduate projects to post-doctoral funding. It is a massive asset to duckweed researchers at both institutions and I hope it continues well past my graduation.

Building travel into my studies

I’m also looking forward to the experience of travelling and this being built into my studies, which alone is a massive draw to the joint program. I’m not sure moving to Australia would be something I could have hoped to do without having this project. Out with my studies I’m an aspiring Port Adelaide fan - apologies to the Crows but the Port kit just looks so much cooler. I cannot wait to explore the beaches and outback, and might even try get a hold of a ute. Being Scottish, I am naturally conscious that I’ll be at constant battle with the heat and requirement of SPF 100 but won’t stray away from the challenge. I do wonder how long it’ll take to miss rain, and how popular I’ll be with my lab mates for making such a statement…