It’s one of the most elementary, simple, least thought-about components of life on Earth. It’s also perhaps the most complex, intricate and variegated elements of the planet. It’s also woefully underappreciated and often carries with it an air of near anonymity.
Ag folk, obviously, have a unique view of the world, but to the general population, dirt—or, rather, soil—is just that stuff you walk on and try to keep out of the house. Over the past year, agronomic organizations around the world have spearheaded a worldwide effort aimed at remedying that.
In 2013, at the request of representatives from Thailand, member countries of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) created the International Year of Soils (IYS), to take place across calendar year 2015. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) has always been a leader in promoting soil education in the U.S., but has ramped up its efforts even more in 2015.
“Everyone is so busy in this day and age,” says SSSA director of communications Susan Fisk. “We just don’t spend a lot of time looking down.”
SSSA chose to participate in IYS to increase public awareness of the value of soil science and the visibility of soil scientists in their communities. “The main driver of success for SSSA’s IYS campaign was our creation of 12 monthly messages,” says Fisk. “Each month was led by a member scientist who oversaw the development of the activities, blog posts and videos. We tried to make sure the monthly messages would really resonate with the general public.”
For each month, SSSA developed:
A monthly activities page (located online at www.soils.org/iys) devoted to the particular month’s message and hostingall materials.
Two- to three-minute cartoon videos created by Jim Toomey (famous for his comic strip Sherman’s Lagoon) that were promoted on soils.org and YouTube.
Two coordinated Soils Matter blog posts and news releases.
An email to educators reviewing the month’s theme and activities.
In what may prove to be its most effective move to promote soil education, SSSA awarded a $1,500 grant for a science teacher to attend the annual National Science Teachers Association meeting. The 2015 winner was Amy Densborn of Lewis Cass Junior/Senior High School in Walton, Ind.
“Without soil, nothing would exist—it’s the foundation for everything,” Densborn said of her philosophy on teaching science. “Come dig in the dirt—get your hands in it, explore, be tactile; see and feel. It helps students get excited and understand. We can talk about the horizon of soil, but if you take them out and show them, it has real meaning and application.”
“I really believe the International Year of Soils has been a success,” says Fisk, “and soil is the big winner. People are starting to understand that it’s not a completely renewable resource. Soil is starting to get the attention it deserves.”