US (NE): UNK faculty bring aquaponics to Nebraska schools

The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Nate Bickford, assistant professor of biology, and Matt Bice, assistant professor of kinesiology and sport sciences, are teaming up to teach middle school teachers how to integrate aquaponics systems into their classrooms and curriculums.

“One of the problems with Nebraska is there are so many food deserts,” Bickford said. “We need to re-learn where food comes from and how easy it is to grow our own food. One of the things we think aquaponics can do is teach that. That’s really, really important.”

“If you plant your own food and you see it grow, you learn where food comes from,” Bickford said.

Bice and Bickford hypothesize that growing their own food with aquaponics will teach children how to make healthier choices.

Teachers representing 18-22 Nebraska rural schools will have the option of using a 30-gallon tank in the classroom or a 250-gallon tank for the school and will choose the plants they grow, including bell peppers, lettuce, herbs, lemons, tomatoes or even houseplants. Bice and Bickford will lead trainings in August, November and May to teach the teachers how to implement aquaponics into the curriculum.

Read more at Kearney Hub