Project Summary
Workforce development and youth education are key for growing the aquaculture industry as it was identified during the listening sessions in the 2025 NCRAC Annual meeting. This proposal is intended to provide an integral approach to recruit youth into aquaculture careers. We are proposing to leverage existing programming (e.g., Aquaculture in Schools, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant), and resources (e.g., Investigating Crayfish + Freshwater Ecosystems Great Lakes Region Teacher’s Guide, Know Your H2O, etc.) as a foundation for working with educators in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and beyond, while expanding youth education efforts through new material development, programming, and professional development opportunities to reach new audiences (e.g., 4-H, middle school students, etc.). The project team will utilize proven program development models (e.g., IISG’s Educational Materials Development Model (EMDM), Virginia Tech’s, and Extension’s Train-the-Trainer) to build on existing programs. New content will focus on aquaponics, aquaculture, and careers in the Blue Economy. The project team will work with educators to ensure youth education and workforce development goals are met, and that the educational materials are teacher tested, and teacher approved. Project team members will work closely with educators for creating a more robust regional workforce development pipeline in the North Central Region (NCR).
Objectives
1. Develop a network of middle and high school teachers that currently are using aquaculture and/or aquaponics as a teaching/learning tool in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan to be used as a model for other states in the NCR to facilitate the development and sharing of research projects in the classroom.
2. Provide professional development opportunities for teachers by offering workshops to train teachers in the use of aquaculture and/or aquaponics as a teaching/learning tool, including opportunities for touring aquaculture and/or aquaponics facilities.
3. Advance aquaculture workforce development by promotion of aquaponics “SPIN clubs” throughout Michigan 4-H and the development of new resources for Illinois and Indiana based 4-H clubs.
4. Promote the use of living non-invasive crayfish in the classroom to engage students in aquaculture/aquaponics.
5. Advance awareness of Blue Careers by developing one stand-alone lesson and a minimum of 6 short videos showcasing NCR relevant examples of aquatic science and aquaculture related jobs.
6. Provide resources to support teachers and students who are using the Know Your H2O water quality testing kits.
Duration: 2 Years (January 1, 2026-December 31, 2017)
Participants
PI: Herbert Enrique Quintero F., Ohio State University
Co-PI: Stuart Carlton, Purdue University
Co-PI: Amy M. Shambach, Purdue University
Co-PI: Barbara L. Evans, Lake Superior State University
Co-PI: Nicole V. Wright, Ohio State University
Extension Liaison: Julie Fox, Ohio State University
Industry Liaison: Michael McGraw, Roothouse Aquaponics
Project Outline
Award Amount
$185,250
Award Number
2024-38500-42307, $98,130 (Year 1)
2025-38500- 45290, $87,120 (Year 2)
