Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached during this reporting period were high school students from three(3) different public high schools in grades 9-12.Students resided from the two largest cities in Kentucky (Lexington and Louisville). The project also introduced aquaculture and aquaponics concepts to elementary and middle school-age students at KSU's Rosenwald Center for 4-H Youth Development. The majority of the students who participated in the program were underrepresented youth from diverse communities. The target audience were specifically from urban school settings, which is an important demographic category. The students were comprised primarily of African American, Hispanic/Latino, mixed race, and several other races, who identified as other AND a high number of females were selected in the project. Students were also economically disadvantaged and qualified for free or reduced lunch. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Project Director (Kenneth Thompson) attended a professional development STEM/STEAM Conference in June 2024. The Project Director received the opportunity to Chaira session ANDorally present a scientific talk on "Integrating Aquaculture/Aquaponics to Promote STEM Education in High School Classrooms". The professional development conference was meaningful and the Project Director plans to attend the same conference again next year (June 2025). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results from this project were disseminated to research and academic communities by presentations at annual meetings and published peer-reviewed articles. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I plan to collaborate with a new group of students from the same three (3)high schools and implement the project-based investigation program as described above. Likewise, the 4-H educator here at Kentucky State University will work with a new group of middle and elementary school students during the next reporting period and implement aquaponics education trainings as described in the proposal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Students were provided authentic, hands-on ag-STEM PBI instruction in the high school classroom. Students were actively engaged in the hands-on intervention (curriculum unit) that was created by the Project Director. The hands-on PBI intervention was designed to mirror real-life work of aquaculture scientists. Students learned about the concept carrying capacity while managing a real-world aquaponic ecosystem in the classroom. Students developed their scientific and mathematical practices and reasoning skills in the classroom. Students designed and engineered their system at the beginning of the project. The project director measured students' attitudes and opinions toward STEM and aquaculture and their interests towards a STEM-related discipline and/or career pathway using a quantitative descriptive survey methodology. A pre-and post-survey instrument was utilized during this reporting period. Overall, data revealed that students demonstrated positive growth in their interest in learning hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and working with people who are immersed in science discovery in the future. The Project Director also broaden awareness of KSU's CACS and AFE programs by hosting a STEM Day at the Aquaculture Research Center. The Project Director provided over 50 high school students opportunities to actively engage in aquaculture and was made aware of the exciting opportunities that existwhich is a STEM-related field. According to NIFA and USDA's mission there remains tons of workforce development opportunities in Agriculture, Environmental Sciences and more. These jobs will be the future and there aren't enough young people to fill the void or demand, specifically there is a low percentage of minorities involved in the space. KSU personnel; Casey Townsend, Janelle Hager, Chelsea Walling, Brian Walker, and Danielle Kinder conducted a six week program that was developed in Lexington,KY at Leestown Middle School by implementing an aquaponics program. There were 39 participants which conducted an investigative experiment with Back To The Roots aquaponics systems. They examined bacterial growth, fish feed rates that impacted plant growth and water quality. A brief survey was administered which asked about their interest to do more with Aquaculture Programs after participating, 50% of them indicated yes. When asked if they would pursue at STEM degree afterwards 50% indicated yes. Due to a flood at the Rosenwald Youth Development Center additional aquaponics programming was postponed until Spring of 2025.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Thompson, K.R., Webster, C.D., Pomper, K.W., Wilhelm, J.A., and Krall, R.M. (2024). Integrating aquaculture to support STEM Education: A qualitative assessment to identify high school students attitudes, interests, and experiences. (Published in the June issue). Science Education International, 35(2): 1-10.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Thompson, K.R. 2023. Introducing aquaponics. Middle and high school students learn aquaponics, connect with Kentucky State. AgKnowledge 2023. Kentucky State University, Land Grant Program, pages 45-46.