Aquaculture in Action 2002
"Tools for Teaching Science"

In July, eight more teachers joined the Aquaculture in Action Network in Maryland that spans from Garrett County to Wicomico County in 36 schools. Master educators lead the five-day workshop that kicked off with a "hands-on" working day and overnight stay at the UMCES Horn Point Lab in Cambridge, MD. The experience at Horn Point included a background discussion and tour of the finfish aquaculture facility by Dr. Andy Lazur, a finfish specialist for the Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program. After lunch teachers toured the oyster hatchery then boarded a boat with Dr. Don Meritt to explore the differences between oyster reef restoration sites in the Choptank River. Many were surprised to find that dramatic differences can be observed between oyster reefs just 8 miles apart!

Teachers (L-R) Pat Chambers, Judy Parsons, and Ann Horn learn how to weigh and measure fish after anesthetizing them with clove oil.

The following day teachers traveled to Baltimore and toured the Aquaculture Research Center at the Center of Marine Biotechnology before heading to the final workshop destination of South Carroll High School. The visits to the Aquaculture facilities helped many teachers understand the importance of aquaculture research to our economy and every day lives. The remainder of the workshop was spent at South Carroll HS learning the fundamentals of aquaculture, building a 210 gallon recirculating system for their classroom, and practicing techniques and activities to use in the classroom with their students. The teachers were very pleased with their work when they had finished building their system and are now gearing up for a new school year with a unique teaching tool for their classroom. The next step this Fall will be to get the systems running and through our partnership with MD DNR, the Horn Point Lab, and the Center of Marine Biotechnology, distribute fish and other organisms for culture in the classroom.

To learn more about the Aquaculture in Action Program go to www.mdsg.umd.edu/Education/AinA. Check out the map that displays all the schools involved and the Projects link that displays data entered by students and teachers involved. Maybe you're thinking about enrolling in the next workshop, but you'll have to wait until 2004.

http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/Extension/msgsnn/msgsnn05_1/aina02.html