Problem

Cal Poly lacked a hands-on aquaponics system to promote student engagement in organic agriculture and support the community. The existing systems were commercialized and did not reflect the natural life cycle of aquaponics. As a result, students were not able to learn about biomimicry and how to do it naturally and efficiently.

To address this issue, we developed a project to create an aquaponics system that mimicked the shape of a tree and philosophy of a tree in the education process of aquaponics.

Learn more about our project here.

Solution

We created a hanging aquaponics system over a biofiltration pond that allowed students to put plants in the hanging sculpture and get familiar with the biofiltration pond, which had crawdads, redwoods, etc., mirroring the natural life cycle of aquaponics. We wanted to make sure that our project was not just another commercial enterprise but an experiment in biomimicry using human tools to learn more about how to do it naturally and more efficiently.

The project was developed by me, with help from other team members who assisted in starting the farm. We also received support from local organizations that shared our vision for sustainable agriculture.

Impact

Increased student engagement in organic agriculture by X%
Promoted sustainable agriculture practices within the community
Provided hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in aquaponics

"This project had an incredible impact on the community, promoting sustainable agriculture practices and providing hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in aquaponics."

Team

Team Member #1 - Project Developer
- Developed the project and helped start the farm
- Oversaw the creation and implementation of the aquaponics system
Team Member #2 - Supporter
- Provided support for the project through local organizations with a shared vision for sustainable agriculture
- Assisted with fundraising efforts to ensure the success of the project

Tree-Inspired Aquaponics Boosts Student Engagement