Year 9 science students at Blaxland High School are taking part in an exciting project examining wattle seeds that have been sent into space.
In early December, the wattle seeds will be sent to the International Space Station for six months, then returned to the school for analysis, alongside seeds that haven't left earth.
The students will be asked to germinate and grow their seeds, recording data about the germination and seed growth. Data will be uploaded to the 'What'll happen to the wattle?' app.
"I don't think anything much will happen to them. I feel like space won't affect them too much," said student Lucas Parkinson.
"Maybe it will influence the size," said head science teacher Ami Madden. "We may get bonsai-size wattle trees".
Student Charlotte Horrex-Barnet was curious the effect the different climates would have on the seeds, as they would be planted all around Australia - even in the desert.
"It's a really good learning experience for all of us," she said.
The program, from One Giant Leap Australia Foundation, in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and supported by the Australian Space Agency, has been offered to more than 150 schools, scout groups and Australian Air Force Cadets across Australia.
A community panel judged the applications that included 200 words and a short video, explaining what the schools would do with the wattle once it had grown.
At Blaxland High, they intend to grow the wattle seeds in the lab for a little while, then plant them in a bush regeneration area.
The wattle features on the school's emblem, but as they have very few wattle trees growing on school grounds, they are keen to establish some more.
The 12-month to two-year project will result in the creation of a nationwide map identifying the location of Australia's 'space wattle' trees.
