Ryan Cox, CEO of HATponics and founder of Inner-City Aquaponics, speaks about his portable food system, which can be delivered around the world, at the testing lab at the former Rossville High School.A Rossville, Ga., company that offers aquaponics programs in Walker County schools has been named a finalist in a statewide competition sponsored by the Technology Association of Georgia Education Collaborative.
About 170 schools, businesses and organizations applied for the STEM Education Awards, which are given annually to recognize groups that promote learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Eight companies will be named winners on Sept. 27.
Inner-City Aquaponics is up against six other finalists in the corporate outreach category, including IBM, UPS and General Electric. The two-year-old organization builds farming systems that combine aquaculture — growing fish — with hydroponics — growing plants in water, and does everything from demonstrations to lessons to full-fledged installations in regional schools.
“We’re up against some real heavy hitters who are really doing good work,” founder Ryan Cox said. “It’s a real honor to be there.”
The Technology Association of Georgia is the largest technology association in the country with over 20,000 members. The organization’s educational arm focuses on preparing Georgia students for jobs in STEM fields, said Tony Cooper, senior director for strategic communications, and the awards recognize groups that are pushing STEM education.