Exploring the Impact of Artificial Light for Plant Growth on Human Mood and Emotion in Confined Environment: A Case for a Space Station
About the study
As humans spend more time in space, it becomes increasingly important to find ways to make these better suited to and adaptive to human wellbeing. Plants play a vital role in providing food and improving psychological wellbeing, but growing plants in space requires artificial lighting. This study explores how lighting designed for plant growth in confined spaces, such as the Space Station, affects people’s mood and emotions. We are also investigating whether incorporating elements of nature-inspired design into these environments can improve how people feel. By testing different lighting conditions, we hope to identify solutions that benefit both plant growth and human wellbeing in confined spaces. The findings from this research could also help people on Earth. As cities become more crowded and access to natural light decreases, the lighting strategies we develop could improve urban living spaces by enhancing psychological wellbeing.
This experiment will help us understand how different types of artificial lighting used for plant growth affect human mood and emotions in confined spaces.
We're inviting you to spend about 1 hour in a specially designed “Space Shuttle” like room with vertical greenery and different lighting conditions at Adelaide University City East campus. Then answer questions about your mood and emotions under different lighting conditions. Finally, take part in a short interview.
The experiment will be conducted individually. There are no foreseeable risks or harm associated with participating in this study. However, you should be aware of the following:
- You might experience a temporary change in mood due to varying lighting conditions in the test room. This is an intended part of the experiments, and any effect will not persist beyond the testing session.
- You might feel some fatigue due to the 1-hour duration of the study.
Eligibility requirements
- Age 18 -60 years old
- In a good health
- Able to communicate in English
Recruitment timeline
Start of recruitment: August 2026
End of recruitment: September 2026
Benefits
As a thank-you, you will receive a $25.00 gift voucher after the Experiment.
Contact details
For any information regarding this project, you should contact:
Tika Hanjani
- Email: tika.hanjani@adelaide.edu.au
Professor Carolyn Semmler
- Phone: 08 313 4628
- Email: carolyn.semmler@adelaide.edu.au
Professor Veronica Soebarto
- Phone: 08 313 5695
- Email: veronica.soebarto@adelaide.edu.au