This imaginative approach to research produces hands-on opportunities for our undergraduates to gain research experience. We have found that involvement in research groups develops community among students which improves undergrad retention and leads to sustaining academic and personal relationships.

We also see this program as a recruitment tool supporting outreach to our local community and an educational foundation for K-12 students. The goal of the outreach portion of the program is to increase students’ vision for their future with tangible, inventive, hands-on experiences. The program will create a connection between engineering students, engineering faculty and our local K-12 students utilizing a new food growing technology as an interdisciplinary approach to learning through science, biology, chemistry and math.

We see the aquaponics outreach program expanding to provide entrepreneurial structures and resources for members of our nearby Providence Community neighborhood garden. And ultimately, establishing an innovative research center for the future of farming and aquaculture.

P.S. Your gift is of course tax-deductible through the FSU Foundation. Your employer might even match your contributions! To see if your company will double, or even triple, your impact, visit www.matchinggifts.com/fsu.

Rattler Give donations can be made here: http://bit.ly/rattler-give, then select 'General Discretionary Fund'