The first Aquaponics project in the International School of Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire)
It was 5 o'clock on Thursday evening when the phone rang for the sixth time. I had to pick it up; if I didn't, I knew there would be another call after another. Who could be so persistent that they wouldn't stop calling me? Of course, it was my extraordinary student, Abhinav Kumar. He is an amazing learner who would drag you down the path of his lust for knowledge and success, a trip that all teachers would take, no matter how many annoying calls they received all week.
The project was conceptualized to the young learner's mind in the middle of the previous May when he came to my class asking me if I would like to be his supervisor for an Aquaponics project he wanted to do. Aquaponics is a sustainable agricultural system that combines aquaculture (the farming of aquatic organisms like fish) with hydroponics (the growing of plants in water). The truth is that I was always into microcontrollers, like Arduino, and DIY projects, and this was one of my long-lasting dreams. Immediately, I said yes, and we sat down to organize our thoughts. First of all, this was a project he could not manage on his own, but he should have a team where he could instruct the members at different stages of the project to help him. Although reluctant at first, he accepted the position of the project manager apart from the engineer, researcher, programmer, and worker that he would become down the road at some point.
Two books as a kicking start would help him visualize the main characteristics of the project. He had the whole summer to read them, and then we would have a meeting during July to review what we could bring back to Cote d'Ivoire to bring this project to life. This project provided enormous opportunities for research: Aquaponics is a relatively new field, and there is still much to be learned about it. By incorporating aquaponics into his project, the student could conduct research and contribute to the knowledge base of this emerging field.
August of 2022 and the school year started. Abhinav was super excited. In his mind, during the summer break, he saw the project in its full extent. It was a revelation to see such a commitment to a project and willingness to actually implement it. The first step was to make a presentation to the Director, where he would present his idea and the benefits of applying it to our school. All of these were prepared and organized by himself only. The key points were: sustainable and basically biological food for our school cafeteria. All the plants and fish would coexist and sustain each other. Another key point is that we wanted to export our knowledge to the public schools and create hubs of "aquaparks" where schools could feed their students. Malnutrition of students is a common problem in Cote d'Ivoire. For the latter to happen, the project must be in a very cost-efficient interval, which will make it transferable to the public schools of Cote d'Ivoire.
Abhinav, after researching papers after papers, ended up with a general structural plan on how we would set up the system. When I reviewed it, I asked him to search if someone applied something similar so as to have a general guideline. He found a hippy guy from YouTube. I remember telling him, "Abihi, he is a hippy. We will end up growing hair and doing only yoga. Find something else." Anyways he persuaded me and he proved to be correct.
We bought barrels, pipes, connectors, valves, and everything else we needed for our project. As with all projects, future students must evaluate costs to avoid going over budget. Abhinav kept track of the money spent, carefully evaluating each step of the process for any miscalculations or unexpected expenses.
After we bought all the materials, we needed a plumber to help us connect the barrels. We found one, but the negotiation process was challenging because bargaining is a common attitude here in Cote d'Ivoire. Initially, the plumber asked for an astronomical amount, but we managed to negotiate it down to half the price. Abhinav played a key role in these conversations, highlighting the benefits of working on such a project for the plumber's experience.
Later, we needed pebbles for our plant beds, and Abhinav successfully dealt with the street economy of Abidjan to find them at a reasonable price.
Next came the construction phase, and Abhinav was amazed by the plumber's ingenuity. He would use a chair leg to make a hole in the barrel and even use shoe parts to isolate the connections. On the other hand having studied the system carefully, Abhinav, was able to guide the plumber on how to make the connections. Overall, the experience taught me that if we allow students to take the initiative in their own learning, they will surprise us with their maturity and ability to learn.
After assembling the barrels and pipes, the crucial step of filling the fish tank with water, adding pebbles to the plant beds, and circulating the water with the pump lay ahead of us. Critical thinking is one of the most crucial skills an Aquaponics project requires from students. Abhinav had to think critically about balancing the needs of the fish and plants in the system.
He considered factors such as water quality, pH levels, and nutrient levels, developing skills that will benefit him in future academic and professional endeavors.
Abhinav also faced challenges during the process, such as where to place the plant beds. He came up with a solution by repurposing an abandoned table in the school's backyard and cutting it to the correct dimensions.
As a student, experiencing the process of cutting a piece of wood and making mistakes can be a valuable learning experience. It can help you develop an appreciation for the skill and precision required in related trades. By going through the process of measuring, cutting, and readjusting, you can gain an understanding of the importance of accuracy and attention to detail. This can also help you develop problem-solving skills as you work to correct any mistakes you make.
Additionally, by gaining an appreciation for the work of those in the woodworking and related trades, you may develop a greater respect for these professions and the people who work in them. Who wouldn't like to see all these attributes in his students? I think these experiences taught him to think critically and react to problems with quick, effective solutions.
After a long period of 8 months, filled with errors, adjustments, re-evaluations, and seemingly impossible problems, the final stage has finally arrived. We have our fish in the fish tank, the plants are in the plant beds and we are warming up the coals for the future feasts, that we will share with our community. Of course the project never stops. It is an ongoing process that always can become better. Now we are trying to implement automation techniques. Automatic fish feeders and water level monitoring are essential for the smooth operation of the project.
As a last note, I would like to point out that aquaponics consists a Deep Learning procedure for academic evolution of the students. By utilizing techniques in the field of aquaponics, students can develop a deep understanding of the holistic approach that these kind of projects demand, tackling many aspects of real life problems and gain valuable skills that can help the students in their future. The social impact that Abhinav saw immediately, was that this project should be done as economically as possible so as to be transferable to public schools. Isn't this aspect of life that we want to see in all our future citizens of this world? I believe that students who take advantage of this opportunity will be well-positioned for success in the future.
For me, it was a truly eyeopening experience. It helped me develop as an educator and realize that...wait..the phone is ringing again
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