On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College welcomed twenty-five juvenile Bluegill fish to be educational animal ambassadors. These fish were released into the on-campus Aquaponics tank by the Biological & Environmental Technology program coordinator, Nathan Van Vranken, and adjunct faculty member, Sarah Purol.
Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method that combines aquaculture (raising fish) with hydroponics (growing plants in water). In this system, fish waste provides natural nutrients for the plants, which, in turn, helps filter and clean the water for the fish.
“I think that by doing this, we can build a unique interactive and multifaceted learning experience for our students located in the region,” says Van Vranken. “Students can learn how feedback loops work within a controlled system for lab-focused studies in biology and environmental science but also applications for agriculture and sustainable technology.”
