IPS Insights: Ecological Outcome Verification Training Course

Have you ever wished you had support to take advantage of a professional or career development opportunity that lies outside the scope of your academic research? The UCSB Individualized Professional Skills (IPS) Program is designed to help graduate students and postdoctoral scholars fill in the funding gaps for pursuing opportunities that support your professional development in a variety of career trajectories.

IPS Insights: In our series, "IPS Insights," previous awardees share about their IPS-funded experiences in short informational videos. This week's featured video is by Eva Wilson, a Master's student in the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management department.

Eva used the IPS funds to take a five day Ecological Outcome Verification training course. Watch the video to learn more!

In Eva's Words: What I Learned

"The Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) is a scalable and affordable methodology that farmers and ranchers can use to measure regenerative outcomes on their land. The EOV program measures regeneration through a host of ecological indicators, including ground cover, water infiltration, biodiversity and soil carbon/soil health. Farms and ranches with positive outcomes through EOV are eligible to join Land to Market's Verified Regenerative Supplier Roster. This then allows consumers to source products or services that have been produced on verified regenerative land. One of the critical steps of the verification process is to invite an Accredited Professional (AP) to the property. APs work directly with farmers to practice, teach, and verify the scientific principles of Holistic Management. This course is one of two steps needed to become an AP - a foundational knowledge that is outside of the scope of my current research and aligned with my long-term career aspirations. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this course. By learning directly from the course facilitators - a Savory Accredited Educator and a Director of Land Stewardship at Jalama Canyon Ranch - I now feel comfortable and empowered to conduct an in-field monitoring plan myself. I was also able to grow my professional network by connecting with like-minded professionals in the field - an opportunity that was simply invaluable!"

IPS Program Overview

Awards up to $1000 are granted to eligible UCSB graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from any discipline who wish to individually tailor their career paths with outside professional development opportunities. The purpose of the IPS program is to help grad students and postdocs take greater agency in their own career path by funding exploration of a range of professional development opportunities across a variety of career and skill interests.

The IPS Program is a collaboration between the Professional Development Series at the Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships; Graduate Division; the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; UCSB Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative and CNSI Technology Incubator; Career Services; UCSB's divisional deans; and external donors. Learn more about the program here!