UK: Derry schoolchildren get their own aquaponics farm
A new Comic Relief-funded initiative in Northern Ireland is looking to increase awareness in this niche area, while also stretching into a ‘digital’ future.
100 young people will be involved in an aquaponic digital farm, from initial concept and design to its build and maintenance.
Called The FabFarm, it will combine aquaponics with new digital fabrication techniques and equipment.
It will bring together students from Ardnashee School and College, Nerve Centre’s FabLab in Derry and The Playtrail, which will host the project.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for young students at the Playtrail and Ardnashee College to advance their skills in digital technology and design, programming and electronics, all of which will equip them for the modern workplace,” said John Peto, director of education at Nerve Centre.
“Through the project they will also be taught about the importance of food production, social enterprise and technology, in a very hands-on way. We don’t know of anyone else in the world that is doing this yet – not only operating an aquaponic farm but designing and building it themselves. We are very proud that this is happening here in Derry before anywhere else.”
Read more at siliconrepublic.com