Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, including plants and animals, and is an important and growing sector of Maine’s economy. Due to the over-exploitation of natural populations of many seafood species, societies are looking more and more to aquaculture as a source of seafood. Aquaculture, however, promises to provide more than just food on the table. It is a potential source of medicines and other biological materials and will likely play an increasing role in conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species.
Since 2006, we have hosted a workshop for teachers on integrating topics in aquaculture into elementary, middle and high school science curricula. We are not looking to reinvent or replace the science curricula currently being used by science teachers. Rather, we are keenly interested in using aquaculture as a tool to teach particular concepts in science in a way that is highly attractive to students and allows them to explore in-depth related and relevant topics.
The goals of our aquaculture workshop are to introduce teachers to the variety of aquaculture activities at the University of Maine, provide background material to increase teachers’ knowledge base in aquaculture and associated fields, demonstrate active-learning and inquiry-based activities rooted in aquaculture that can be readily used in the classroom to demonstrate concepts in chemistry, physics, and genetics, and work with teachers during and after the workshop to further develop these activities so they become highly useful educational tools that other teachers will want to adopt. The specific focus of the workshop has varied yearly depending on the background and interests of the workshop participants. For example, one year workshop participants worked with small-scale aquaculture systems (aquariology) in order to explore the biological, chemical and mechanical basis of filtration system. Another workshop explored the biology and ecology of different types of commonly cultured aquatic organisms. With these workshop opportunities, participants have gained experience in the use of tools and techniques for monitoring aquaculture systems.
In recent years the aquaculture industry has turned to genetic improvement as a means to increase production. However, a tremendous amount of controversy has arisen over the production and marketing of “genetically modified organisms”. Yet, what separates traditional methods of genetic improvement versus “genetically modified organisms” is not always clear. Thus, the workshop has provided an introduction to the basic genetic concepts that historically have formed the cornerstone of genetic improvement programs, particularly those in use in aquaculture research programs at the University of Maine. The workshop has examined the differences between traditional and biotech-based methods of genetic improvement, and has established links that allow teachers and their students to explore these concepts "in-silico".
More information (including pictures) on the three aquaculture workshops held, thus far, and information on the activities developed for and as a result of the workshop as well can be found by clicking on the links to the left. For additional information on the workshop, including future offerings please visit our Website (http://www.umaine.edu/marine/people/sites/prawson/AQWorkshop/home.html) or contact Dr. Paul Rawson at the University of Maine (prawson@maine.edu).
Updated: June 2009