A Year After Liftoff: UF Scientist Reflects on Historic Space Flight and the Future of Biology Beyond Earth (UF News)
One year after UF researcher Rob Ferl’s groundbreaking Blue Origin suborbital flight, he and collaborator Anna-Lisa Paul continue to reflect on how the mission has shaped their research and advanced the culture of space science.
UF Plant Biologist Anna-Lisa Paul Receives SURA’s Distinguished Scientist Award (UF News)
UF researcher Anna-Lisa Paul has been named a recipient of the Southeastern Universities Research Association’s (SURA) 2025 Distinguished Scientist Award, recognizing her groundbreaking contributions to space biology and her leadership in advancing scientific exploration beyond Earth.
Seeding Exploration
UF researchers Rob Ferl and Anna-Lisa Paul are advancing space agriculture by successfully growing plants in lunar soil, a breakthrough that supports the future of human space exploration.
Interview With Dr. Rob Ferl & Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul of Astraeus Space Institute
UF space researchers Dr. Rob Ferl and Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul share insights and discuss key discoveries from their research on the potential for life in space.
Rob Ferl and Anna-Lisa Paul Fall 2024 Commencement Speech
At the 2024 UF Fall Commencement, Dr. Rob Ferl and Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul delivered an inspiring speech emphasizing the power of collaboration and shared journeys.
Out of This World: UF Fall Commencement Speakers Announced
UF researchers Rob Ferl, Ph.D., and Anna-Lisa Paul, Ph.D., will be the speakers for the University of Florida’s Fall Commencement ceremonies Dec. 13 and 14.
UF Researchers Study How To Grow Food on the Moon
UF is helping NASA build a permanent moon colony by growing plants in moon soil, a breakthrough that could benefit Florida and beyond as NASA prepares to send astronauts around the moon in 2025.
First NASA-Supported Researcher To Fly on Suborbital Rocket
Rob Ferl, a NASA-funded UF researcher, will fly with his experiment on a commercial suborbital rocket for the first time on Aug. 29.
Blue Origin Announces Crew for New Shepard’s 26th Mission; UF’s Rob Ferl Will Be on Board
Blue Origin revealed the six-person crew flying on its NS-26 mission, which will include University of Florida’s Rob Ferl. Ferl will be the first NASA-funded researcher to conduct an experiment as part of a commercial suborbital space crew.
UF/IFAS Plants Grown in Space Flown Home
Researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences were glad to see their plants returned to Earth last month following an experiment aboard the International Space Station.
The plants were launched as seeds aboard the International Space Station in May as part of a multi-phase experiment being conducted by the UF/IFAS Space Plants Lab. Astronauts aboard the ISS grew the plants in July, harvested them in the Fall, sent them back to Earth in December, and the researchers had them by January.
This experiment focused on genetic strategies to make plants hardier and better able to adapt to the spaceflight environment. Over time, as more plants are given the opportunity to grow during spaceflight, researchers hope to “train” the plants to adapt to this environment.