Students and teachers at an Astoria elementary school celebrated the opening of the school's brand new hydroponic lab at a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday.P.S. 17 Henry David Thoreau, located at 28-37 29th St., became the fifth school to install a hydroponic lab as part of Council Member Costa Constantinides' Science 2050 budget initiative.
The greenhouse classroom will give students the chance to explore Science, Technology, Engineering Math (STEM), and sustainability topics while growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs with cutting-edge hydroponic technology. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil by instead using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. The labs provide students with 21st-century skills and a new way of learning science.
"Hydroponic labs offer unparalleled hands-on lessons that open students up to the world of science," Constantinides said."I am so thrilled to see the new lab at P.S. 17 Henry David Thoreau is already showing our students the wonders of growing their own food in innovative ways. I cannot wait until every school in our Council District has an operational facility by next fall."
The new lab was built by New York Sun Works, a non-profit organization that builds science labs in urban schools. Its science labs and urban farms operate as an integrated part of the school's curriculum and align with the New York City and New York State science standards.
Read more at Astoria Post