How this started

I am fascinated by the idea that soils departments around the country (where they still exist) could be aroused to modify and expand their curricula aiming towards independent professional careers, rather than the conventional aim for federal and state government service."

"Or better yet, to work with the latter so as to create the field mapping learning & practice opportunities after first qualifying academically in soil judging and such courses as soil genesis & taxonomy, geomorphology, glacial geology, soil mechanics, etc.

Willem van Eck

Purpose

The purpose of this page is to explore preparation of a special bulletin or paper on the state of the science as it relates to careers and education.

This would include current statistics on state & federal soils positions and consulting professionals (by state), and on the soils departments which still care to provide solid pedology teaching and field experience. Such a paper would be made available to college guidance counselors and soils departments, as well as to the young people considering a natural resource career. It would have to include some statistics of the work done by soils consultants and the professional licensing standards, as distinct from other earth science activities by geologists and civil engineers.

The above constitutes the original idea. To this I have added I stats for job opportunities. Per the "How this started" section I have added something on curricula.

Elements

State and Federal Soils Positions by State

Perhaps SSSA can help us dig up the numbers on this.

If we come up with a repeatable approach for assessing this population, we should maintain the data, updating it annually.

Job Opportunity Stats

Several sites tally Federal and State Job opportunities. We need to find a way to track and chart these the way this site does.

Consulting Professionals by State.

This would involve contacting state licensing boards and state organizations.

Again, if we come up with a repeatable approach for assessing this population, we should maintain the data, updating it annually.

Job Opportunity Stats

Several sites tally consulting soil scientist job opportunities. We need to find a way to track and chart these the way this site does.

The Soils Departments

A current list of soil departments (here) indicates 68 such programs. This list appears incomplete (Kansas wasn't on the list until recently) but also appears to include Universities that may have little soils coursework. A validated list would be of considerable value. The criteria to be listed should include sufficient soils curriculum. Coursework sufficient to qualify undergraduates to become certified 15 semester hours in soils seems like an important break to focus on.

Note: Sarah in Pierre's office has expressed interest in this type of information for newsletter and NSCSS announcement contacts. I am hoping that Sarah will be coming to the San Antonio meeting.

Curricula

We at NSCSS seem always to have the topic of education and soil science curricula in front of us. In a nutshell, here is how we see curricula adapting to the business of soil science: To be an entry level consulting soil scientist in most of our businesses, you need the classic field pedology skills in your tool box. Because edaphic effects are what drives the business of soil science, one also needs a solid grounding in edaphology (agricultural and environmental soil science). But that's not enough: the entry level consulting soil scientist needs the classic communication, writing, research and business skills required in any innovative collaborative competitive environment. NSCSS members express a preference for candidates who have established these skills by the time they achieve their undergraduate degree.

Two other areas educational needs come up in NSCSS discussions: ethics and commercial value. Combining business and science creates interesting ethical situations that especially confound the ethical bearings of soil scientists making the transition into business from academic and institutional environments. A little awareness training in those settings would help the profession. Regarding the concept of commercial value for services, to excel in soil science consulting, one needs to embrace value from the point of view of the community served. Consulting scientists are relied upon to provide objective, practical science-base information on which to base critical decisions. Deviating from this or even understanding it poorly is damaging not only to the individuals involved but to the profession. Adhering to this has the added benefit of eliminating those ethical dilemmas involving a choice between advocacy and scientific objectivity.

Educators

Who are the soil science educators most able and interested in preparing soil scientists for the business of consulting?

Continuing Education

Soil science departments with continuing education and distance programs are more likely to be interested in preparing soil scientists for the business of consulting.

Exemplary Projects

Soil science departments with projects like NCSU's Land Application Training and Demonstration Center should be held up as premier examples of success.

Work Done by Soils Consultants

Seems the data we collect each year for membership renewal would be a good place to start. (See here) Currently we ask renewing members to specify area of specialization, including: Agriculture/Land Mgmt., Septic Disposal, Soil Survey, Erosion Control/Soil Stabilization, Hazardous Waste/Bioremediation, Land Application, Wetlands, and Geotechnical.

Professional Licensing Standards

• See this newsletter for NSCSS' most recent effort in presenting this.
• For a list of soil science licensing programs see here.
• For a website dedicated to soil science licensing see here.

Recommended Reading

• Philippe Baveye's "Whither Goes Soil Science..."

Excerpt from abstract: Institutional and student surveys carried out in 1992 and 2004 suggest that soil science education is experiencing a significant decline in the US and Canada. The present article reports on the data obtained in these surveys, in particular the fact that the enrollment in M.S. and Ph.D. programs in soil science in U.S. and Canadian universities was about 40% less in 2004 than in 1992.

• SSSA President Rattan Lal's , "Making Soil Science Education Relevant to Societal Needs" in the February 2007 issue of CSA News (pdf).

Excerpt: "In an era (with) ... the ever-looming threat of extinction to soil science departments within the Land Grant University systems, soil science must be taught as a business."

• SSSA's "Steps to Achieving Soil Science Licensing in Your State" (PDF)
• Wikipedia's "Soil" article
• Tamsyn Jones' E Magazine article, October 2006 "The Scoop on Dirt: Why We Should Worship The Ground We Walk On"

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