Careers in Soil Science

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These materials have been reviewed for their alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards as detailed below.

Overview

Students read about various soil science careers and the education needed to become a soil scientist. Students consider the diverse opportunities that a soil science career provides.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

Natural Resources: All forms of energy production and other resource extraction have associated economic, social, environmental, and geopolitical costs and risks as well as benefits. New technologies and social regulations can change the balance of these factors. HS-ESS3.A2:

Natural Hazards: Natural hazards and other geologic events have shaped the course of human history; [they] have significantly altered the sizes of human populations and have driven human migrations. HS-ESS3.B1:

Chapter 9: Careers in Soil Science: Dig In, Make a Difference

Chapter Summary

Soil scientists work in a variety of areas and locations... it's usually not your typical job behind a computer all day. What are they doing? Where do their careers take them? There are thousands of soil scientists, and there are thousands of "typical days!"

Explore the opportunities a soil science degree provides, learn more about the training and education needed to become a soil scientist.

Educator Notes

Students read about various soil science careers and the education needed to become a soil scientist. Students consider the diverse opportunities that a soil science career provides.

Time required : 150 minutes, or 2 class periods
Tools and Technology needed: Computers, PowerPoint.

This module is intended to serve as an extension or preview for students who may be interested in a soil science career. Educators may want to print and share these pages or ask students to research a soil scientist and share it with the class. The language in this module is written to the student.

As one option, educators may want to begin this lesson with a career interest survey linked here: Grow Next Gen Careers in which students select from a series of questions to narrow their interests. Students can then follow one career pathway via the links on the page. Short videos of people describing their careers are available here: Grow Next Gen Career Videos

Do these descriptors sound like you?

You are...

fascinated with science
enjoy working outdoors
interested in how the ecosystem supports life on Earth
want to make a difference in the environment—from soil conservation to sustainable use of our land, water quality to wetlands, forests to deserts, and more
energized talking about the importance of soil and its crucial role in sustaining life
looking for days that are far from "ordinary"

If so, then Soil Science may be the career for you!

See the following pages for more information and descriptions of what you'll need for Education, what types of careers involve soil science, and more.

Examples of soil science work

A forensic soil scientist is in a quarry. Soil samples at this site and from the trunk of a car where the murder weapon was found appear to be the same soil. The body must be somewhere.
A soil scientist is looking at the pattern of lead and other pollutants on a map of a neighborhood. She is trying to discern a pattern to make a hypothesis about the origins of the lead contamination. Did it come mostly from cars? Or, maybe house paint?
Another soil scientist is out in a soybean field in the Midwest. His job is to protect the health of both the growing crop and the groundwater by recommending fertilizer application rates and timing. He worries about how the recent drought is affecting our cropland and thinks he will do some research on best practices under drought conditions.
A well-known soil scientist is speaking with a very large organization trying to bring health and nutrition to Africa. The key to ending famine is soil, but the message is strange to many. Colleagues are already in Sierra Leone helping residents of a village implement practices that can help improve soil productivity.