Educating Future Producers and Users of Biochar in the Mid Atlantic

If biochar is to reach its potential in the Mid Atlantic Region in the coming years, extensive education will be needed to prepare scholars to be part of the biochar economy either as producers or end users. Towards this end, the MASBio Consortium has launched a coordinated set of education programs focused on sustainable bioproducts such as biochar. Efforts include an undergraduate scholars program for college students, a regional design course focused on project development, certificate programs in green energy and land reclamation, and secondary educator training. Anticipated outcomes of this suite of programs include increased awareness of biochar and its potential among participants, active incorporation of bioproducts and biochar topics in secondary school curricula, and an increased interest in pursuing biochar and sustainable bioproducts careers.

Panel: Amir Hass, Shawn Grushecky, Timothy Volk, Hannah Payne, Jamie Schuler, Chad Bolding, Daniel Ciolkosz, Jingxin Wang, Molly Ramsey

Keywords: education program outreach and extension programs