A rare collaborative effort between students at Lincoln High School resulted in unique solutions to an age-old problem.

Students from International Baccalaureate physics and biology courses worked together, both in and out of the classroom, to develop hydroponics systems designed to grow vegetables and other plants without soil.

"This project gives students the chance to work in a team, like scientists, to solve a problem," physics teacher Erik Tietyen said. "The emphasis isn't so much the project itself, but how well they work together."

Students were given 10 hours and $10 to develop cost-effective systems that could be used to grow plants in areas where people do not have a access to green space and fresh produce, such as high rises, urban areas, impoverished areas and food desserts.

"It brings in a global thought process for the students to think beyond what we have here," Tietyen said. "We have access to grocery stores and fresh produce, but there are a lot of big, urban areas that don't have that luxury."

Rare collaboration

The collaboration was a requirement of International Baccalaureate, a program at Lincoln, with an international focus that features a rigorous curriculum mirrored in other countries around the world.

"I think the IB program aims to relate all subjects into a more worldly idea," physics student Isaac Carlson said. "Instead of labs that focus on one area, it is more about the process."

Collaborations between science disciplines at the high school are rare due to scheduling and other conflicts, according to Tietyen.

"It hardly ever happens," he said of pairing classes. "In my physics classes, there is not one example where I am doing a collaboration with another science department. It would be nice to do that, but with all the stuff to do in a year, it is hard to collaborate and coordinate where it works for everybody."

The students on Friday said they found value in the collaboration. Physics student Andrew Klavekoske said biology students gave purpose to his knowledge of solar panels, which were used to power water pumps in the hydroponics system.

"Biology provides application to what we are doing," Klavekoske said. "It gave us reason as to why we are using solar panels and collecting energy."

Students were evaluated on how well they worked together and how well their hydroponics solution worked.

"The purpose is they wanted us to have a real-world environment as if we were going out into the field," Zack Simmon said. "When you're out in the workforce you don't get to choose who you work with. Sometimes you are stuck with people."

Developing solutions

Each group of students utilized a solar-powered water pump to circulate water through the hydroponics system, but beyond that each project was unique in its approach to growing plants without soil.

"The difficulty with hydroponics is that there must be oxygen continuously added to the water," Simmon said.

Students utilized different designs, such as PVC piping with water flowing through it or a wooden box filled with water and fish tank rocks. Another group, "H.A.P.P.Y.," utilized a cake tub and experimented with nylon hanging into nutrient-enriched water.

"We took a different approach with using nylon wicks, which are extensions of the roots," junior Makayla Nelson said. "At first we didn't think it would work, but it did. It soaks up the nutrient water and enriches the plant."

Through trial and error and research, students developed solutions and fertilizers that worked best. The group "Hydrolife" used Miracle-Grow, while the group "Plower Fower" utilized water from a fish tank, which they admitted did not smell great.

"But there is enough power in the solar panel where you could hook up a fan," Klavekoske laughed.

The collaboration could become even more rare if referendums do not pass in April. The board of education has listed the IB program at Lincoln as a potential cut to be made to address a looming budget deficit.

"I think it is disappointing they are considering cutting it," Simmon said. "It sets Lincoln apart from other high schools. There are not a lot of other high schools in the area that are IB. It's a really good new perspective on learning and collaborating that you don't get in a normal classroom."

Phillip Bock: (920) 686-2966,, or @bockling at Twitter

Read or Share this story: