Soil+Microbiologist

So You Want to be a Soil Scientist? By: Shay Karenke

What is a soil scientist?  A soil scientist is someone who studies the upper few meters of the Earth's crust in terms of it's physical properties, distribution, genesis, chemical properties, morphology, and biological components.

Why //soil//?


 * it is a medium for waste disposal[[image:wisconsinnaturalresourceexploration/Picture3.jpg width="265" height="188" align="right"]]
 * it helps to distribute and store water and nutrient
 * it supports the environment
 * maintains growth, sustainence,and development
 * it provides support for structures

What does a soil scientist do? A soil scientist could...

...study the composition of soils on Mars to determine what elements they contain.

 ...chemically evaluate soil nutrient levels in a farming community to determine what types of crops would grow best there. 

<span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">

<span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">...evaluate soil from an archaeological site to determine how the area previously looked. <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">...determine the likelihood of erosion.



<span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Two Types of Soil Scientist
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">Agricultural-focus on the food and farming aspects of soil. Example: farm advisors, crop consultants, or representatives of agricultural companies.
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">Environmental-focus on the soil's role in a healthy ecosystem. Example: water quality concerns, remediation of contaminants, on-site evaluation of soil properties.

<span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">

<span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Work Environment <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">Soil scientists work regular hours both indoors in labs and offices and outside doing field work. Equipment includes digging and gathering tools such as shovels, trowels, and buckets as well as testing equipment.

<span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">What does it take?
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">Good critical thinking skills
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">The ability to communicate clearly
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">Willingness to get dirty!
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">A bachelor's degree in soil science or other related field[[image:wisconsinnaturalresourceexploration/Picture11.jpg align="right"]]

<span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Payment/Job Outlook
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">$58,390
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">Between 2006-2016 opportunities in soil science are projected to grow at an average 7-13%.

<span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Where do you find career opportunites? <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;"> [|www.soils.org] <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;"> Soil Scientists- [| www.nscss.org/jobs.html]
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">Soil Science Society of America
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">National Society of Consulting
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">US Consortium of Soil Science Associations-www.soilsassociation.org

<span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Resources
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">[|www.soils.usda.gov]
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">[|www.ndsu.edu]
 * <span style="background-color: #e0b871; color: #391d09; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">[|www.sciencebuddies.org]