Science Barge
Encyclopedia
The Science Barge is an itinerant floating science museum
now docked in Yonkers, New York
, USA. It is also a working urban farm operated by the sustainable development organization Groundwork Hudson Valley, and designed by the New York Sun Works Center for Sustainable Engineering. The Science Barge grows crops using a hydroponic greenhouse powered by solar panel
s, wind turbines, and biofuels. The crops in the greenhouse are irrigated by captured rainwater and desalinated river water. Food is grown without carbon emissions, no agricultural waste is discharged into the watershed and no pesticides are used. The barge was designed by the visionary environmental engineer Dr. Ted Caplow.
The goal of the Science Barge is to promote food production within cities around the world in an ecologically sustainable way. The Science Barge uses this goal to teach sustainability
to students of all ages, and has an active education program for school and camp trips. The Barge is open to the public.
In November 2008, the Science Barge docked in Yonkers, New York
, USA on the Hudson River
at the mouth of the Saw Mill River
. The Yonkers downtown site was selected for a variety of reasons, including: (1) to add yet another exciting destination to the Yonkers downtown to create a vibrant recreation and commerce district; (2) to provide easy access to mass transit including MetroNorth, Amtrak
, and Bee-Line Bus System
at the historic Yonkers train station, and New York Water Taxi
at the Yonkers Pier; (3) to offer easy bicycle and pedestrian access from the Waterfront Promenade; and, (4) to highlight the restoration work of the Saw Mill River - a major Hudson River tributary.
At one time it was located on Pier 92, next to the New York Passenger Ship Terminal
, the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises pier, and the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
. In 2007 it was at Pier 84, until the end of October, where it reappeared in late April 2008.
As awareness of sustainable food production methods and specific interest in Building-integrated agriculture (which the Barge was designed to promote) have grown, coverage of the Barge has increased. In July 2009, GOOD created a short video of the purpose and methods of the Barge. In the same month, former CBS News Anchor Dan Rather
hosted an episode of "Dan Rather Reports" on the Barge. Prior coverage included a 2008 podcast with Jen Nelkin and Zak Adams of the Science Barge speaking to the New York Academy of Sciences about the barge and how it functions. Other original coverage from 2007-2009 can be found on the "New York Sun Works press page". A hydroponic greenhouse, inspired by the Science Barge, was recently opened on the roof of the Manhattan School for Children.
In March 2009, the Science Barge was named "Best Class Trip" by New York magazine in its annual "Best Of..." issue. In June 2010 it was docked in Yonkers
.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
now docked in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
, USA. It is also a working urban farm operated by the sustainable development organization Groundwork Hudson Valley, and designed by the New York Sun Works Center for Sustainable Engineering. The Science Barge grows crops using a hydroponic greenhouse powered by solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
s, wind turbines, and biofuels. The crops in the greenhouse are irrigated by captured rainwater and desalinated river water. Food is grown without carbon emissions, no agricultural waste is discharged into the watershed and no pesticides are used. The barge was designed by the visionary environmental engineer Dr. Ted Caplow.
The goal of the Science Barge is to promote food production within cities around the world in an ecologically sustainable way. The Science Barge uses this goal to teach sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
to students of all ages, and has an active education program for school and camp trips. The Barge is open to the public.
In November 2008, the Science Barge docked in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
, USA on the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
at the mouth of the Saw Mill River
Saw Mill River
The Saw Mill River is a 20 mile long tributary of the Hudson River in the United States, flowing from a marsh in Chappaqua to Yonkers, New York, where it empties into the Hudson. Its starting point in Chappaqua is presumed to be a spring. In the 17th century, the Saw Mill River was known as...
. The Yonkers downtown site was selected for a variety of reasons, including: (1) to add yet another exciting destination to the Yonkers downtown to create a vibrant recreation and commerce district; (2) to provide easy access to mass transit including MetroNorth, Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, and Bee-Line Bus System
Bee-Line Bus System
The Bee-Line Bus System, branded on the buses in lowercase as the bee-line system, is a bus system serving Westchester County, New York. The system is owned by the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation and operated, on contract , by Yonkers-based Liberty Lines Transit, Inc...
at the historic Yonkers train station, and New York Water Taxi
New York Water Taxi
New York Water Taxi is a water taxi service based in Red Hook, Brooklyn offering commuter and sightseeing service mainly to points along the East River and Hudson River...
at the Yonkers Pier; (3) to offer easy bicycle and pedestrian access from the Waterfront Promenade; and, (4) to highlight the restoration work of the Saw Mill River - a major Hudson River tributary.
At one time it was located on Pier 92, next to the New York Passenger Ship Terminal
New York Passenger Ship Terminal
The New York Passenger Ship Terminal is a terminal for ocean-going passenger ships on Manhattan's west side....
, the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises pier, and the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum is a military and maritime history museum with a collection of museum ships in New York City. It is located at Pier 86 at 46th Street on the West Side of Manhattan. The museum showcases the World War II aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the submarine , a Concorde...
. In 2007 it was at Pier 84, until the end of October, where it reappeared in late April 2008.
As awareness of sustainable food production methods and specific interest in Building-integrated agriculture (which the Barge was designed to promote) have grown, coverage of the Barge has increased. In July 2009, GOOD created a short video of the purpose and methods of the Barge. In the same month, former CBS News Anchor Dan Rather
Dan Rather
Daniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9,...
hosted an episode of "Dan Rather Reports" on the Barge. Prior coverage included a 2008 podcast with Jen Nelkin and Zak Adams of the Science Barge speaking to the New York Academy of Sciences about the barge and how it functions. Other original coverage from 2007-2009 can be found on the "New York Sun Works press page". A hydroponic greenhouse, inspired by the Science Barge, was recently opened on the roof of the Manhattan School for Children.
In March 2009, the Science Barge was named "Best Class Trip" by New York magazine in its annual "Best Of..." issue. In June 2010 it was docked in Yonkers
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
.
Sources
- Official Website
- GOOD Magazine short video summarizing the Science Barge
- NY Times story and slideshow
- Feature on WNYC Radio
- New York Magazine Rated Best Class Trip
- Article in Growing Edge Magazine
- Article in New York Observer
- New York Academy of Sciences Podcast
- New York Sun Works, creators of The Science Barge