PWSC supports mariculture research and development

For the past few years, Prince William Sound College has supported mariculture research and development made possible through partnerships with the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Blue Economy Center (ABEC), the City of Valdez, and the Teaching Through Technology (T3) Alliance. In March, Tommy Sheridan, associate director for ABEC, came to PWSC to offer a week of fun and engaging mariculture activities and workshops for students at PWSC and Valdez High School.

As part of mariculture research - raising shellfish and marine life for food and other products - students, as Sheridan explained, participated in activities like "Tasty Tuesday," where Sheridan served his "world famous" kelp pickle soup. PWSC hosted a mariculture sampling event aboard Kimberlin's Water Taxi on Wednesday. PWSC students also attended a mariculture workshop with ABEC, Chugach Regional Resources Commission, and Prince William Sound Economic Development District. On Thursday, Valdez High School students, led by Valdez T3 Coach Katelyn Eisen, learned more about the Teaching Through Technology (T3) Alliance and mariculture thanks to a lecture by Sheridan.

Sheridan shares that all of these efforts to promote mariculture "wouldn't be possible were it not for PWSC's leadership in this space. Sincere gratitude also goes out to PWSC Assistant Professor Amanda Glazier, whose tireless efforts have positioned the college as a leader in workforce development for Alaska's mariculture industry."