Join BASF Planetarium for the first Science Café of 2026, Planting in Space with Your Feet on the Ground, featuring speaker Javier Montiel, M.Ed. on Friday, January 16 at 7:00 PM in the dome! This event blends current science, great conversation and curiosity in a relaxed setting. Tickets available to adults ages 21+ and are $20 per person. Admission includes snacks and drinks.
<<<CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!>>>
Discover how space-based research is transforming the way we understand and grow plants here on Earth. This session explores the challenges and breakthroughs of cultivating life beyond our planet, from microgravity experiments on the International Space Station to innovations improving sustainability at home. Learn how staying grounded on Earth can help us reach for the stars in agriculture, science, and exploration as humanity prepares for long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Javier Montiel is a prominent educator and STEM education strategist with a two-decade career in bilingual education and international collaboration on educational projects. He has led and implemented numerous international STEAM education initiatives in several countries, working with students and teachers at multiple space agencies and technology companies. He has been a presenter at Space Center Houston since 2011. He was recently named Director of Education for Explore Mars, a global community that advocates for a unified vision for humanity’s future on the Moon and Mars in the 2030s.
