A l'UM la science [S03-ep12]: Fish on the Moon

This week in A l'UM la science, Cyrille Przybyla talks to us about space aquaculture, or how to raise fish on the Moon. A long-form interview for the last episode of A l'UM la science in 2023. A program co-produced with Divergence FM and broadcast every Wednesday at 6pm on 93.9.

In 2015, astronauts on the International Space Station tasted the first lettuce grown in space. Since then, radishes, wheat and even peppers have taken root at an altitude of over 400,000 kilometers. A luxury when most of the food available on board is irradiated, freeze-dried or canned, but not enough to fill you up either, especially in view of future missions to the Moon.

So how do we ensure that these astronauts get their fill of animal proteins, vitamins and omega-3s? Fish! Except that, barring a miraculous catch, you'll agree that there's little chance of spotting a tail in the Sea of Serenity. In response to this lunar problem, our guest has taken his hands out of the water and stretched them skywards. Cyrille Przybyla is a marine biologist at the Ifremer L-3AS and Marbec laboratories, specializing in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), and what he proposes is almost magical, since it involves sending fish eggs into space to raise them...on the Moon.

At UM la science you've got the program, here we go!

Coproduction: Divergence FM / Université de Montpellier
Animation: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Interviews: Aline Périault / Lucie Lecherbonnier
Production : Alice Rollet

Listen to the program "A l'UM la science" on Divergence FM 93.9