Dr. John Werner is a professor of
Biology at Wisconsin Lutheran College, here in Milwaukee. He has a Ph.D. in
Molecular and Cellular Biology from Arizona State University and teaches
courses in Genetics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology and
maintains an active research lab in those areas.
This past winter, John ventured
outside his comfort zone, geographically and intellectually, to set up aquaponics systems in Malawi and Zambia. Malawi
is one of the poorest countries in the world, and while urban Zambia is more developed, rural areas remain poor. John and a WLC undergraduate
student used this pilot study to engage and educate community leaders about
aquaponics, acquire the necessary parts, and assemble systems in both countries
with the goal of providing clean fish and vegetables to communities in need of
these resources.
Aquaponics itself isn’t new, but
advanced technology and the need for clean and accessible food has made it more
viable and necessary. This method of growing food allows an individual or
community to grow plants and fish in a controlled ecosystem. Due to its
relatively small size, self-contained nature and low maintenance, aquaponics is
perfect for urban and rural environments alike. Come hear John describe the basics of
aquaponics and how this was implemented in Africa!
