Science World's outdoor exhibit space is reopening with a host of new features, including a FarmBot.
After closing last year and following significant upgrades, the reopens Saturday, March 15, 2025. Originally opened in 2013, the area is an extension of Science World's indoor area with exhibits on nature, food, and more.
Now there are new gardening components, a revitalized wetland environment, and upgrades to the park-like zone's stage and observation platform.
Meet FarmBot
Perhaps the most eye-catching new feature of the science park is FarmBot.
"It is a CNC (computer numerical control) robot which allows us to code it in advance, and then it automatically can do gardening tasks," says Sarah Tulga, curator of the science park.
"It can weed, water, plant, and monitor the health of our beds, as well as suggest different plants that we can plant next to things using AI," adds Tulga. "It has a camera that can allow us to measure soil depth, as well as a lot of really cool new things."
While coding might not sound like a skill most gardeners need, she notes that technology is often used in agriculture to help grow crops.
"We'll be doing school workshops with it, and demos for visitors to see and check out how it works and to learn from the gardeners who code the robot and use it to care for plants," says Tulga.
It works like a CNC laser cutting machine, but with a variety of different tools to maintain the garden. One day a laser may be attached for laser weeding, which has been developed at some universities.
It's useful, Tulga notes, to maintain a garden while doing other things; FarmBot can automatically water and weed on its own.
"It's pretty exciting technology right now," says Tulga.
Science and food
A couple of components have to do with food. One is a series of gardens that will rotate over time. Each has a group of plants growing that are used in different lunches.
One lunch currently being grown is the "pepperoni pizza" garden, with wheat, tomatoes, and herbs all planted next to each other so people can understand what their food looks like before it's processed (minus the pepperoni). Throughout the year, Science World will take suggestions on what to grow in the gardens.
There's also a vermicompost set up to show how composting works with worms. Not only does it compost plant life from the park and food scraps, but also office supplies and boxes from the Science World offices.
Revitalized wetland
Science World has turned its marshy area into a pond with a mountain stream.
"Folks can see more native plants to B.C. as well as explore native ecosystems. We also have a new reflection walk exhibit, which invites people to look at indigenous plants of B.C. and learn more about how we can support reciprocal relationships within the ecosystem," says Tulga.
Right now most of the plants are fairly low-key, but they'll grow throughout the year, she adds. New components will be added, as well.
"Eventually we'll be doing some really fun interactive programming with it," she says. "People will be able to walk on rocks and do water quality testing, that kind of jazz."
The public observation deck has been reopened, allowing people who aren't ticketed Science World guests to view the wetlands from the outside.
They'll also be able to see the updated stage, where daily science presentations are planned for the spring, summer, and fall (weather permitting) at 1:20 p.m.
The hens are back
Vanta, Marigold, and Marshmallow are in the park's coop, and "Chicken Hour" is returning daily at 3 p.m. It's a chance to see how to care for backyard chickens and offer kids a chance to learn more about the birds.
There's also a balcony garden exhibit, showing how to grow food on a small Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»balcony.
While the park is reopening March 15, upgrades will be ongoing. It'll be open daily until Nov. 3, when it shuts down for winter.
