EARTH'S SOIL: NATURAL SCIENCE AND HUMAN USE

SOILSCI 250

Discuss how Planet Earth is an interconnected system dominated by the ever-present exchange of materials and energy that control the fitness and fate of all living organisms. Designed to introduce the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Science by providing a broad overview of the basic concepts used to make sense of the environment. Explore how natural systems work, the services they provide, important environmental challenges facing these systems, and how people are working to address them. Includes professionals in the field as guest speakers to discuss a future in Environmental Sciences.

SOILSCI 211

Soil represents the largest terrestrial pool of carbon, and our management of soil will play a key role in the future of our planet. Course topics include overviews of basic soil science and climate change science; how climate affects soil formation, soil carbon and soil organic matter; soil carbon dynamics in urban areas, the tropics, and the arctic; how humans influence soil carbon stocks around the globe.

SOILSCI 527

Focuses on soil distribution and soil forming factors for Wisconsin. Teaches skills in describing soil variations across the landscape, characterization of soils in the field, collecting soil samples, use of state-of-the-art soil sensing technologies, processing soil data from proximal soil sensors, report writing and presentation.

ENVIRST/GEOG/SOILSCI 230

Soils are fundamental to ecosystem science. A systems approach is used to investigate how soils look and function. Topics investigated include soil structure, biology, water, fertility, and taxonomy as well as the human impact on the soil environment.

ENVIRST/SOILSCI 101

Lectures and discussions about environmental issues. Historical and contemporary environmental impacts of humans on the biosphere. Global futures: population, technology, societal values, resources and prospects for sustainable management.