Welcome to IBI's Online Training Course

Welcome to IBI’s online biochar course, Biochar Training for Environmental Sustainability and Economic Development—an intensive training series on all aspects of biochar, presented by leading biochar experts.

The course is offered at a fee of $750. IBI members receive a $150 discount with use of a discount code upon payment. IBI members can find the $150 discount code on the Members' Only landing webpage (password-protected).

In developing countries (see list), IBI members can access the course for the reduced rate of $320. The fee for non-members in developing countries is $360; that includes access to the members areas of the IBI website for 1 year. Low-Middle Income country students must contact IBI staff to receive this special discounted code.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact [email protected].

Course description

As a student, you will have the opportunity to learn about best-science updates on biochar to promote the uptake of biochar production and use, and actions necessary to overcome the barriers to commercialization of the biochar industry. You will study biochar production technologies; physicochemical properties; standards, classification, and certification; biochar effects when used as a soil amendment; biochar carbon persistence in soils, carbon accounting, and climate change; and commercialization of the biochar industry.

The course contains 19 separate lessons—with a subject overview, a recorded audio/video presentation lasting 30 – 45 minutes (some lessons contain more than one video), and quizzes to test comprehension and retention. There is also an optional introductory presentation on the basics of biochar and the IBI so you can start the course with a common understanding of both. The materials are presented in a user-friendly online format and you can access the course at your convenience over ten weeks. With the 19 lessons and bonus introductory information, IBI recommends that you complete two lessons a week to absorb as much information as possible as you move through the full course over ten weeks.

You will receive a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the course, provided you have worked through at least 80% of the modules and the quizzes. The administrator of the course will assist with any registration and access problems you may encounter and will monitor your progress.

Course materials are based on presentations from the June 2014 in-person biochar training course titled, “Biochar for Environmental Sustainability and Economic Development” hosted by the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and developed and presented by IBI and collaborators. The objective of the course was to provide an in-depth understanding of biochar for the target audience of academics, government officials, policy makers, financiers, and entrepreneurs in the European region. IBI collaborated with biochar researchers and engineers from Massey University, New Zealand; Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Germany; and the Spanish National Research Council to design and present the course.

The course is offered at a fee of $600 for members, $750 for non-members.

In developing countries (see list), IBI members can access the course for the reduced rate of $320. The fee for non-members in developing countries is $360; that includes access to the members areas of the IBI website for 1 year.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact [email protected].