D.C. Smith Greenhouse Aquaponics

The UW–Madison Green Fund supports student ideas that improve campus sustainability, including this project! For more information, contact Ian Aley at iraley@wisc.edu.

Project Background

In the Spring of 2023, students from Engineers for a Sustainable World partnered with D.C. Smith Greenhouse academic staff to design and build an aquaponics system where fish and plants grow symbiotically. Faculty and staff now incorporate this innovative system into their teaching and research about food sustainability.  The system currently raises tilapia, leafy greens, peppers, and rice. Bacteria convert the waste produced by fish into nutrients available to plants, which are being grown on rafts floating in water. By using these nutrients, the plants make the water more hospitable for the fish, allowing the water to recycle through the system. Producing lettuce in an aquaponic or hydroponics system uses 11% of the water while producing up to 80X more than in a farm field. The increase in yield is partly due to the ability to grow year round in a controlled agricultural environment as opposed to just a few months outside. This makes aquaponics a particularly appropriate system where water and/or space is scarce like in arid climates or cities.  An aquaponics system is a great educational tool for all levels of learners. Apart from learning about sustainability, there is also the opportunity to learn about growing vegetables, and a living ecosystem. All aspects of core STEM fields can be tied to lessons surrounding an aquaponics system. Tangible results provide students with an applied learning experience that will stay with them in the future. 

Contents

Get Involved

What is Aquaponics and How Does it Work?

Learn more about the science behind aquaponics!

Watch the Video ​ ​
A schematic showing how an aquaponics system works.
A mason jar with leafy greens

Hydroponics Mason Jar Garden

Want to start your own hydroponics garden?

Read the Tutorial ​ ​

Join Engineers for a Sustainable World

If you are interested in sustainability in engineering, check out what other work ESW does!

ESW Projects ​ ​

Get Involved with the Green Fund

If you would like to improve the sustainability of the UW–Madison campus by getting involved with a Green Fund project, please email Ian Aley, Green Fund Program Manager: <a href="mailto:“iraley@wisc.edu”">iraley@wisc.edu</a>

News and Articles

A Sustainable Splash: Students Bring Aquaponics to D.C. Smith Greenhouse  Read this article highlighting the celebration of the project installation.  Feed Fish, Grow Plants — on Water  Learn about how the system is being used for teaching and research. 
The image shows 8 students in a classroom working on building wooden structures for the aquaponics system.
The image shows 6 students building a structure made of wood and blue plastic for the aquaponics system.
The assembled aquaponics system showing the fish tank on the right side, the filter in the center, and a part of the hydroponics component at the bottom left corner.
The image shows the hydroponics component of the aquaponics system. There are two large blue bin, each covered with a layer of styrofoam. The bin on the right side has some plants growing on it.
Close up image of the hydroponics component. There is a layer of styrofoam with square shaped holes. Around 3 holes have been filled with a plant transplant.

Project Partners

Application Materials

Are you interested in applying for the Green Fund for a similar project? Click on the link below to view the application for this project. For more information on application requirements, visit the Green Fund Application Information page or contact the Green Fund Program Manager, Ian Aley at iraley@wisc.edu

Aquaponics Green Fund Application Materials