5-academics-LUREC-course
New course equips students with professional credentials
Each May, SES offers immersive three-week courses at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC). This year's offerings also included a new course titled Professional Credentials and Training for Ecologists. Assistant Professor Brian Ohsowski designed the class after consulting professional ecologists to identify the qualifications they value in job applicants.
"I'm trying to empower our students to earn state and federal level certifications that will make them more marketable as ecologists or restoration ecologists, locally and nationally." Brian Ohsowski, PhD
Students in the Professional Credentials and Training for Ecologists course learned to use equipment that converts plant material into biochar. The charcoal-like substance is useful in ecological restoration projects (top). Participates also learned to use tools for measuring trees and assessing forest volume (below).
The course enabled 16 students to earn multiple certifications, including the Illinois Boating Safety Certificate, FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, NOLS Wilderness First Aid Certificate, and Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Member Training. The students also learned practical field skills such as knot tying, forest volume assessment, and compass navigation.
Environmental science major Anna Leigh Tangeman valued the opportunity to build practical career skills.
"This class has given me the biggest boost in terms of looking for work later. I have so many certifications that employers want," she said. "I have these skills to put on my resume, but I also really know how to use them."
Andromeda Nerge, a senior studying environmental science, said the hands-on experience helped them envision a future career.
"This is wonderful, especially for science majors who want to be in the field or want to do research. We're learning to do the kinds of tasks we'll actually be doing in our jobs. And we get to do fun outdoor activities too in our free time," they said.
The course enabled 16 students to earn multiple certifications, including the Illinois Boating Safety Certificate, FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, NOLS Wilderness First Aid Certificate, and Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Member Training. The students also learned practical field skills such as knot tying, forest volume assessment, and compass navigation.
Environmental science major Anna Leigh Tangeman valued the opportunity to build practical career skills.
"This class has given me the biggest boost in terms of looking for work later. I have so many certifications that employers want," she said. "I have these skills to put on my resume, but I also really know how to use them."
Andromeda Nerge, a senior studying environmental science, said the hands-on experience helped them envision a future career.
"This is wonderful, especially for science majors who want to be in the field or want to do research. We're learning to do the kinds of tasks we'll actually be doing in our jobs. And we get to do fun outdoor activities too in our free time," they said.