Assembly Member Sam Berger (left) joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Bnos Malka Academy Wednesday. Photo via AM Sam Berger.
Assemblymember Sam Berger joined climate change education nonprofit NY Sun Works and members of the local community on May 27 to cut the ribbon at a new hydroponic classroom at Bnos Malka Academy in Forest Hills on May 27.
The new classroom will provide students with hands-on sustainability science and climate education through hydroponic farming technology at Bnos Malka, a K-8, all-girls private yeshiva in Forest Hills.
The initiative aims to introduce students to STEM-based learning experiences that encourage scientific inquiry, environmental awareness and sustainable agriculture practices.
Developed in partnership with NY Sun Works, which converts traditional classrooms into hydroponic farms, the new classroom will provide interactive lessons and real-world applications, encouraging studnts to grow produce while learning about nutrition and climate science.
Berger said he was proud to attend the ribbon-cutting, adding that hydroponic farms helps ensure that younger generations think critically about the future of the planet.
“Programs like NY Sun Works give students the opportunity to engage directly with science and sustainability in a meaningful and hands-on way,” Berger said in a statement. “Investing in innovative educational resources like this helps prepare the next generation to think critically about the future of our environment and our communities.”
Manuela Zamora, executive director of NY Sun Works, said the organization is committed to ensuring that every child in New York City can receive a high-quality science education.
“Such support ensures these students can experience the benefits of the hands-on learning approaches which make science accessible, while growing hundreds of pounds of vegetables all year round,” Zamora said.
Rabbi Akiva Spingarn, executive director of Bnos Malka Academy, said students at the yeshiva will benefit from the new classroom for “years to come.”
“The hydroponics lab is more than just a garden, it is a hands-on learning experience for our students, teaching them the meaning of hard work and growth,” Spingarn said in a statement.