US (LA): Aquaponics comes to Baton Rouge middle school
The school aquaponics lab is the brainchild of ExxonMobil electrical engineer Ronnie Morris, who spent $6,000 of his own money to buy the equipment for the middle school. At a ceremony in the school auditorium Thursday, Morris challenged the students at the middle school to make the most of this opportunity.
“Your lab has the potential over the course of one year to produce 100 pounds of catfish and 1,000 heads of lettuce,” said Morris. “From one scientist to another, let me remind you that the yield is not what matters most. What really matters are the decisions you will make along the way, the friendships you’ll build and the skills you’ll learn.”
Morris’ idea grew out of the house he and his wife built in Baton Rouge a few years ago. They decided to dig a fishing pond for their young grandchildren. But as he began to research what it took to create a healthy pond, Morris said, the scientist in him began to light up with the possibilities. And as he began to think about it more, he saw how growing fish could set schoolchildren up for a love of science and pathway to a better life.
“And it’s fun. There’s so many STEM elements involved in it. You know, water quality, the fish, gathering data, organic vegetation, on and on and on.”
Read more at The Advocate (Charles Lussier)