The Aquadome Effect: Turning Passion into Purpose in Aquatic Education

In this episode of The Modern Farming Podcast, we sit down with Katrin Rudge, Aquascience teacher at Riverview High School, whose program is nothing short of extraordinary.

What started with simple aqua balls has grown into a full-scale, immersive aquascience program that gives students hands-on experience in aquatic ecosystems, marine life, and real-world conservation. At the center of it all is the Aquadome, an outdoor greenhouse that houses a dynamic collection of living systems designed, maintained, and studied by students.

Inside the Aquadome, students work directly with a shark tank featuring multiple species of sharks and tropical fish, a mangrove ecosystem, a coral reef tank, and clownfish breeding systems that support live food production. The program also includes a snook tank, where students raise juvenile snook, tag them, and release them in partnership with MOTE Marine Laboratory, contributing to real conservation efforts happening right here in Florida.

Katrin shares how she built this program from the ground up, the challenges she faced along the way, and the vision that kept it moving forward. Named Sarasota County Teacher of the Year in 2013, she brings a level of passion and purpose that is clearly reflected in her students and the opportunities they are given.

This episode highlights what is possible when education becomes hands-on, meaningful, and rooted in real-world application. Students aren’t just learning about aquatic systems, they are actively managing them, gaining skills in aquatic husbandry, system design, and environmental stewardship.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Katrin Rudge built Riverview High School’s aquascience program from the ground up
• The evolution from basic aqua balls to the fully developed Aquadome greenhouse
• A behind-the-scenes look at the shark tank, mangrove system, coral reef tank, and clownfish breeding program
• The snook tagging and release partnership with MOTE Marine Laboratory
• The importance of teaching aquatic husbandry through hands-on experience
• Real-world skills students gain through managing live aquatic systems
• The impact of strong agricultural and environmental education programs on student success
• Katrin’s journey as Sarasota County Teacher of the Year and what drives her work today

This is the kind of program that sets the standard. If you care about the future of agriculture, aquaculture, and education, this episode will leave you inspired.