by Sophie Gumbs
On Monday, 11/18 from 6-9pm in the Tandon MakerSpace, the Urban Food Lab held its very first Annual Research Expo and Fundraiser! The Urban Food Lab is a Vertically Integrated Project in the NYU VIP Program, in which students from 9 separate departments conduct their own research on vertical farming as well as conduct their own farming. The Urban Food Lab is an aquaponic vertical farming class in which students come up with solutions to challenges in modern farming. It is located in the basement of Tandon MakerSpace and is open to undergrads, who are provided with grad student mentors. The Lab is currently funded by the Office of Sustainability Green Grants Program and is fundraising until December 3rd, as its Green Grant will expire at the start of 2020. As part of the Lab, students learn to implement sustainable project designs, and intro and exit exams demonstrate that students learn, both actively and passively, about aquaponic and hydroponic farming throughout the course. Skills around sustainability are brought outside of the farm itself through students’ extra credit opportunities to apply sustainable practices in small ways in the broader community. The class provides a gateway to academic research and entrepreneurship for many students.