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，鲶鱼的生产为四个主要生产州（亚拉巴马、阿肯色州、路易斯安那州和密西西比）贡献了近35亿美元。过去十年水产养殖技术的进步进一步提高了美国的生产能力。虽然存在水产养殖课程，但很少有中学或两年制教育课程向学生介绍水产养殖领域以及该行业中存在的潜在职业机会。在现有的课程中，很少有为学生提供满足熟练技术人员行业标准所需的实践和实验室经验。 该项目的目标之一是在加兹登州立社区学院（GSCC）和三所亚拉巴马中学之间建立教育伙伴关系，为高潜力学生提供水产养殖科学方面的经验。GSCC和奥本大学的教师正在向中学提供技术专门知识，以便他们可以在学校建立和维持示范水产养殖系统-小型养鱼场。 GSCC还与亚拉巴马的奥本大学和当地产业建立伙伴关系，为中学和两年制学校的学生和中学教师提供水产养殖科学方面的教育经验。这一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）向学生提供关于水产养殖潜在职业的信息，（3）让学生有机会参加“实习和学习”方案-该方案将学生安排在工作的养鱼场。 该项目的方案方法和材料将分发给亚拉巴马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，开始水产养殖方案。

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.