Dylan Rodgers

Dylan Rodgers received his bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.  He focused his studies on sustainable food production and conducted research in aquaponics, which combines raising fish and growing plants.  In 2022, he published a paper in Horticulturae on decoupled aquaponics, where nutrients from fish fertilize plants.  His interests include food system transformation in the face of climate change, Nepalese culture, outdoor activities, and meeting new people.

Dylan’s Fulbright project is researching the feasibility of small-scale recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in Nepal.  With the help of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council and Nepali aquaculturists, he built and is testing a 10,000-L RAS and a 10,000-L biofloc system, another emerging above-ground aquaculture technology, for comparison.  He is also exploring the contexts in which these technologies may be feasible at multiple scales.  In this regard, he is conducting interviews with RAS practitioners in the country to report on the status of commercial-size RAS in Nepal and will also be designing and testing a hobby-size RAS/aquaponics system.