Outreach & Extension: Aquaculture-in-Action

Contacts: Adam Frederick, Jackie Takacs

Under the leadership of Extension education specialist Adam Frederick, the Aquaculture-in-Action Program provides classroom teachers with "hands-on" workshop experience to understand recirculating aquaculture and how to use it to enhance their science curriculum. Teachers from around Maryland learn how to design, build, and set up a successful aquaculture system for their classrooms. In addition, teachers gain experience using the appropriate tools and techniques for monitoring an aquaculture system, including lab-based activities for students. Students, in turn, encounter real problems to solve and questions to answer — an opportunity to put their science studies to work.

Recently, a collaborative effort with the National Aquarium in Baltimore's Conservation team resulted in an integrated aquaculture system to grow native fish and marsh plants such as smooth cordgrass, S. alterniflora, promoted by the National Aquarium for wetland restoration.

A second partnership — with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services' schools — offers students a certificate program to develop skills as an aquaculture technician. Begun in 1998, the schools have noticed the value of using aquaculture as a learning tool, and interest in this effort has resulted in the formation of a panel to develop a certificate in aquaculture that will help students make the transition into the workplace with a set of employable skills.

For more information visit: www.mdsg.umd.edu/programs/education/AinA/