From internship to a school aquaponics project

After her aquaponics internship with ACS and Aquaponics United in May 2025, Vivienne developed a school biology project with Sebastian at Lorentz Lyceum in Arnhem. Their idea was to build a small aquaponic system and investigate how tomatoes grown in aquaponics compare with tomatoes grown in soil.

ACS supported the project with design advice, help sourcing suitable materials and components, practical assistance with the build, and guidance on operating the system. The result was a compact, portable installation that made the relationship between fish, plants and circulating water visible and accessible.

The project connected the experience gained during the internship with independent learning: choosing components, assembling the installation, observing its operation and developing a research question. It shows how a first encounter with aquaponics can grow into a practical school project.