Gadsden State Community College: A Regional Center for Integrating Aquaculture Technologies in Secondary and Two-year Schools

水产养殖是美国农业中增长最快的部分。在美国东南部，四个主要生产州(阿拉巴马州、阿肯色州、路易斯安那州和密西西比州)中的每一个州都有近35亿美元的鲶鱼产量。在过去十年中，水产养殖技术的进步进一步提高了美国的生产能力。虽然水产养殖课程已经存在，但很少有中级或两年制教育课程向学生介绍水产养殖领域以及该行业存在的潜在职业机会。在现有的项目中，很少有项目为学生提供满足行业标准的熟练技术人员所需的动手实验室经验。该项目的一个目标是在加兹登州立社区学院(GSCC)和阿拉巴马州的三所中学之间发展教育伙伴关系，以便为高潜力的学生提供水产养殖科学方面的经验。GSCC和奥本大学的教职员工正在向中学提供技术专业知识，以便他们可以在学校建立和维护示范水产养殖系统-迷你养鱼场。GSCC还与奥本大学和阿拉巴马州当地产业发展伙伴关系，为中学和两年制学生和中学教师提供水产养殖科学方面的教育经验。该伙伴关系正在中学和两年制学校引入水产养殖技术的技术课程，(2)向学生提供有关水产养殖业潜在职业的信息，以及(3)为学生提供参加“实习生和学习”计划的机会--该计划将学生安置在工作的养鱼场。该项目的项目方法和材料将传播到阿拉巴马州的其他中学和两年制学校，这些学校最近受到水产养殖业的鼓励，开始开展水产养殖项目。

Aquaculture is the fastest growing segment of the agriculture industry in the United States. In the southeastern US, production of catfish contributes nearly $3.5 billion to each of the four major production states (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi). Advances in aquaculture technologies during the last decade have further increased the productive capabilities of the US. Although aquaculture curricula exist, few secondary or two-year educational programs introduce students to the field of aquaculture and the potential career opportunities that exist within this industry. Of the existing programs, few provide students with those hands-on, laboratory experiences necessary to meet industry standards for skilled technicians. One goal of this project is to develop an educational partnership between Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) and three Alabama secondary schools in order to provide experiences in aquaculture sciences for high-potential students. Faculty from GSCC and Auburn University are providing technical expertise to secondary schools so they may set up and maintain demonstration aquaculture systems--mini-fish farms--in the schools. GSCC is also developing a partnership with Auburn University and local industry in Alabama to offer educational experiences in aquaculture sciences for secondary and two-year school students and secondary teachers. This partnership is introducing technical curricula in aquaculture technologies at secondary and two-year schools, (2) providing information to students about potential careers in aquaculture, and (3) giving students an opportunity to participate in the "Intern and Learn" program--which places students on working fish farms. The project's program methods and materials will be disseminated to other secondary and two-year schools in Alabama that have recently been encouraged by the aquaculture industry to begin aquaculture programs.