Looking to register for the Aquaculture challenge? Register here today!
The Aquaculture Challenge is a competition held by Lake Superior State University and the Michigan Sea Grant program. Teams sponsored by a school or after school organization (ie.e 4-H, FFA, etc) are tasked with creating their own small-scale aquaponics system. In addition to creating the system, each team is tasked with monitoring the parameters of the system, such as air and water temperature, luminosity, and soil moisture. The last components of the challenge are to develop outreach and extension projects. The parameters of these last two components change from year to year.
The Challenge gives the students a few months to conceptualize and implement their system design, configure their monitoring system and sensors to monitor their system, and create their outreach and extension projects. The students are supported through virtual resources and a team liaison who meets with teams throughout the year. Finally teams complete the challenge by submitting documents and videos describing their systems, monitoring and outreach. Awards are given for each component of the challenge along with a cumulative award.
Teams may complete one or more of the following components of the challenge. There will be awards for each portion of the challenge along with a cumulative award.
A. Design Challenge: Students will design and build a tabletop aquaponics system (200 cubic feet or smaller) to further their understanding of the engineering and design process and the basics around aquaculture and aquaponics.
B. Monitoring Challenge: Students will monitor the chemical and biological properties of their system to further their understanding of the nitrogen cycle, water chemistry, plant growth, fish growth and adaptive management.
C. Business Challenge: Students will utilize a system to generate a business plan targeting industry issues and solutions.
D. Seafood Challenge: Students will perform a culinary demonstration, cooking using ingredients from their system, or similar ingredients. Additional points for performing outreach to the public alongside the cooking demonstration.
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Listed below are some resources for those interested in joining the competition.
Registration: Register here today!
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