US: New hydroponic classroom opened by NY Sun Works with ribbon cutting ceremony

On Thursday, 27 March, NY Sun Works gathered with Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr, school leaders, teachers, parents and students at P.S. 75 School of Research and Discovery in the Bronx for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new hydroponic classroom designed to foster a love of science, nature and gardening among students.

"At NY Sun Works, we are committed to ensuring that every public school child in New York City, no matter where they were born or where they go to school, receives a high-quality science education," said NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora. "We are grateful to Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson and Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. for supporting this new Hydroponic Classroom at P.S. 75. Such support ensures these students can experience the benefits of the hands-on learning approaches which make science accessible, regardless of a student's learning style."

© NY Sun Works

"I am thrilled to have joined the 5th Grade class at P.S. 75 as we cut the ribbon of their new hydroponic classroom," said Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. "A big supporter of the invaluable lessons that hydroponic classrooms can bestow upon children, I have made it a priority to allocate funding towards establishing them in schools throughout our Borough. As someone who was born and raised in the South Bronx and grew up in these schools, I take these needs personally, and it's why I've allocated more than $30,000,000 in critical capital funding to support my district's educational centers. With the $175,000 I provided to P.S. 75 to bring this hydroponic lab to fruition, students will now have access to this innovative way to learn about sustainability and science. I thank Sun Works for their collaboration on making these classrooms a reality for Bronx youth, and look forward to continuing to work with them now and in the future."

"This state-of-the-art facility will not only enhance our science curriculum but also inspire our students to explore sustainable agricultural practices," said P.S. 75 Principal Marines Arrieta-Cruz. Thank you to our esteemed elected officials, Council Member Salamanca, Borough President Gibson and NY Sun Works for their unwavering support and investment in the future of our children."

© NY Sun Works

"With science instruction at the forefront of our work in District 8, I am so grateful to our Bronx Borough President and Council Member Salamanca for this generous opportunity. This new Hydroponic Classroom will help bring science to life for our scholars at P.S. 75," said Community School District 8 Superintendent Jennifer Joynt.

In the Bronx, NY Sun Works has 55 partner schools, with another 39 labs at new schools to be installed this year. The nonprofit opened its first lab in 2010 and has grown today to serve more than 140,000 students across over 350 public schools in the New York City metro area. NY Sun Works delivers inquiry-based K-12 science and sustainability education through the lens of urban farming. The goals are to support each school's long-term capacity to deliver a high-quality science program; optimize students' learning experience in the Hydroponic Classroom; and expand access to fresh produce for students and their families, while preparing students to exceed NYC's science standards. Hydroponic technology is farming that enables the cultivation of plants in an indoor environment. Rather than from the sun, plants receive energy from LED lighting that is tailored specifically to the energy needs of the plants. Instead of using soil, seeds are planted in soil-free growing mediums.