Reading Science Center visitors had a unique opportunity to better understand environmental agriculture with the arrival of a Mobile Aquaponics Lab to downtown Reading Saturday.
The “AquaJack” by Commonwealth Charter Academy is a 63’ long, 9’ wide mobile lab that includes fish, water, LED lights, plants and hands-on lessons.
Students are able to perform water tests and label the different parts of the aquaponic system while engaging in fun, interactive activities.
“We were very luck to be able to bring in the Mobile Aquaponics Lab through the Commonwealth Charter Academy to support our programming for downtown Reading” said Lisa AM Meredith-Unrath, Executive Director of the Reading Science Center.
“The program allows us to expose our families to alternate ways to grow their own food and the science behind it. We are all somehow related to STEM and this proves it. Our food cycle at its best” she added.
“Going through the lab, kids are learning how fish impact our environment and how we can be sustainable. Also, growing plants, vegetables and fruits through water versus using soil, and this allows our families to walk away with value in visiting us.”
The mobile lab frequently travels across the state to school districts, fairs, agriculture conferences and more to spread awareness on controlled environment agriculture.
