by Cody Milne
With constant progress and expansion, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest insight into the Minarets Agriculture Science program and its newest educators. Minarets Press sat down recently with a few of the agriculture science teachers to catch up on their latest adventures.
Agriculture chemistry teacher Eduardo Rubio joined Minarets in 2020, just shortly before the pandemic sent students and staff into distance learning. Rubio says he has already been accepted by so many students and felt immediately loved by the community. He teaches chemistry in a way that appeals to every student, using hands-on projects. These projects engage the students and help them see the subject in a new light. “Chemistry is super fun if you look at the actual definition because you look at things at a molecular level, and class is treated the same way,” he says.
Rubio encourages more students to sign up for his classes because one can gain a better understanding of life and the things in it.“Chemistry is like a puzzle,” he explains. “You can be wrong and learn why you got it wrong, and better yourself through trial and error. Seeing kids' faces light up and find the correct answer is the cherry on top.” Rubio’s latest project walks students through the chemical process behind making ice cream and, yes, the final end product involves eating ice cream.
Next comes Keeley Hall, who started her adventure at Minarets back in 2016. One of Hall’s hallmark courses is Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, otherwise known as AFNR. As Hall explains, AFNR is important because it teaches students how water can become polluted or purified, as well as how food is produced and where it comes from. In short, AFNR teaches students to be smarter consumers. In class, says Hall, students don't just discuss the theories of AFNR. They actually test it. Recently, Hall had students train in identifying soil types, leading them to a project where they create their own model of erosion. Overall, Hall states, “It's all about the students being able to make good purchases later and getting good food.”
And finally is biology teacher Sydney Keen, who joined the staff in the fall of 2020. Being the study of all living things, biology covers a wide variety of subjects in the natural world, a selling point, according to Keen. “I think people should take biology because it's a class that teaches you about a little bit of everything,” she says. “Without the foundation of biology, you would be lost in the upper level of sciences.” Naturally, biology is traditionally the first science class students taken upon entering as freshmen. Keen says her favorite part of biology is studying abstract ideas, such as genetics. Breaking abstract concepts down into assignments is intriguing to Keen because she gets to see the different views students take. In fact, Keen’s classes are currently finishing up a project that involves genetic disorders research.
With a new aquaponics system installed and plans to return to full-time in-person learning next year, agriculture science is continuing to grow and move forward, with a bright future ahead!