AP Bio and Environmental Science Students Learn About Hydroponics at Cheyney University
Dr. Wendy Roberts' AP Biology students, along with Mr. Jeff Holton's Environmental Science students, visited Cheyney University's Aquaculture Research and Education Center on September 29. Organized by new cottage faculty member and recent Cheyney University graduate Aisha Harris and led by her former advisor, Biology professor Dr. Steven Hughes, the field trip provided the students with insight into how an aquaponics system works. They were even treated to a viewing of "Oasis in Space" in the school's new planetarium.
The school's hydroponic greenhouse is a collaborative agreement between the University and Herban Farms, LLC, who uses the space for the commercial production of basil. The university uses the facility for student training and conducting research on the economics of this system and on biological methods to increase the efficiency of production for both crops. In essence, Dr. Hughes says, the fish, in this case tilapia, produce waste which is naturally removed from the system by the basil plants and transformed back into clean water. Tilapia were selected based on their similar tolerance to basil - which needs a steady climate of 78 degrees.
Back
The school's hydroponic greenhouse is a collaborative agreement between the University and Herban Farms, LLC, who uses the space for the commercial production of basil. The university uses the facility for student training and conducting research on the economics of this system and on biological methods to increase the efficiency of production for both crops. In essence, Dr. Hughes says, the fish, in this case tilapia, produce waste which is naturally removed from the system by the basil plants and transformed back into clean water. Tilapia were selected based on their similar tolerance to basil - which needs a steady climate of 78 degrees.
Hughes said the basil is grown to 12 to 15" and harvested. "It would take three acres of dry land and about 12 weeks to grow this amount of basil," Hughes said, noting that in the greenhouse, 500-600 dozen plants are harvested each week in the 12,000 sq ft space.
The school hopes to utilize this experience for its own hydroponics/aquaponics system on campus.
Church Farm School | 1001 E. Lincoln Hwy. | Exton, Pennsylvania 19341
Phone: 610.363.7500 | Fax: 610.363.5367 | Admissions: [email protected]
Privacy Policy
Phone: 610.363.7500 | Fax: 610.363.5367 | Admissions: [email protected]
Privacy Policy
The Church Farm School is an independent boarding and day school for boys in grades 9-12 located in Exton, PA. Founded in 1918 to provide an excellent education to young men from limited means, Church Farm School now serves boys from a range of socio-economic circumstances who are seeking an extraordinary educational opportunity. The school offers a challenging college preparatory curriculum and an exceptional level of personal attention, with class sizes averaging between just 7 and 12 students.
