The team — made up of 12 students, Gradel and some school and community mentors with engineering backgrounds — is working on an algae and mealworm mixture of food for tilapia.

During one of their meetings last week — the team meets on Sundays and after school on Thursdays — the group members were working on harvesting their own algae.

Libby Smith, a high school senior in the group, cultivated the algae in her home and was storing it in her garage until it was ready to be brought to school.

“I’ve learned all about the cycle and the need for sustainable fish,” Smith said.

One of the appealing things about the initiative for students is that the goal of the program is to invent technological solutions for real-world problems. Gradel said some of the students on the team simply joined because they wanted to help improve the lives of kids in African orphanages.

In the process, they’re learning that difficulties can arise at every turn. Students found out that current costs to maintain the aquaponics system cannot be sustained.