FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 26, 2019 • KIDS & EDUCATION • THE QUEENS COURIER 35
kids & education
Photo courtesy of Constantinides’ offi ce
Constantinides joins P.S. 17 students
to unveil brand new hydroponics lab
BY MAX PARROTT
mparrott@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Councilman Costa Constantinides
joined with students, faculty and staff
of P.S. 17 Henry David Th oreau in Long
Island City to give the school’s new hydroponic
science lab a spin on Wednesday,
Dec. 18.
“Hydroponic labs off er unparalleled
hands-on lessons that open students up to
the world of science,” said Constantinides.
“I cannot wait until every school in our
Council District has an operational facility
by next fall.”
For Constantinides, a borough president
candidate who sees climate change as
an “existential threat,” STEM and hydroponic
labs represent a way to expose students
to careers that can confront the
threat of global warming.
“Climate change will present our children
with unthinkable challenges, which
fi nd their way into every single industry,”
he said when he unveiled his education
platform for borough president.
Grave climate threats aside, the school’s
greenhouse classroom promises to be fun.
It will engage kids by allowing them to
grow fruits, vegetables and herbs using
cutting-edge technology.
Within just the last few years, the councilman
said that he has been able to secure
funds for a new hydroponic science or
STEM lab at all schools in his Council
District. P.S. 17 is the fi ft h school to open
a lab within the last two years. He funded
construction of the $160,000 science lab
through the 2019 budget.
New York Sun Works, a non-profit
organization that builds science labs,
partnered with the Councilman and
Department of Education to teach educators
about lab programming to ensure
they get the most out of these facilities.
“Th e NY Sun Works Hydroponics Labs
will provide students with the opportunity
to grow food while learning hands-on
about science and climate education, as well
as food justice and community service,” said
Manuela Zamora, its executive director.
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