Skills and Knowledge Needed Knowledge Skills/Abilities Biology Science (rules & methods) Chemistry Active Listening Mathematics Critical Thinking Education/Training Computers & Electronics Communication Skills Explore Careers in Communications & Media Geography Judgment & Decision Making Reading Comprehension Physics Soil Science Complex Problem Solving Active Learning Work Styles Systems Analysis Attention to Detail Writing Integrity Reasoning Initiative Observation Dependability Independence Persistence Adaptability Innovation Make soil part of your life. Learn more about careers in soil science at: www.soils.org/careers Sources/Career Sites www.soils.org/careers USDA-NRCS website: http://soils.usda.gov/education/facts/careers.html Soil Science Society of America www.soils.org/careers | www.soils4teachers.org SScience il Society of America 5585 Guilford Road • Madison, WI 53711-5801 608-273-8080 • www.soils.org SSSA wishes to acknowledge and thank the Bureau of Land Management for contributing funds to support the development of this publication as part of their outreach activities. Photos cover: Soil Science Stream: Stan Buol, (inset) Aaron Thompson, University of Georgia. Photos inside: L to R: http://SoilScience.info/J.Kelley, Sherry S. Fulk-Bringman, Cristine Morgan, Sherry S. Fulk-Bringman, Istockphoto.com/Kapsas. MAP TEACH CONSULT RESEARCH PROTECT Soil scientists explore and seek to understand the earth’s land and water resources. Students of soil science learn to identify, interpret, and manage soils for agriculture, forestry, rangeland, ecosystems, urban Soil scientists may work on. uses, and mining and reclamation in an environmentally • conducting research in public and private responsible way. Graduates can choose from a range • uses chemistry, physics, microbiology, and research institutions of excellent professional opportunities and challenging mathematics, as well as high technology tools for careers. soil exploration, analysis, data interpretation, and • managing soils for crop production, forest modeling of soil and landscape processes. products and erosion control management. People who become soil scientists... • integrates concerns for people, food production, • teaching in colleges and universities • have a love of science and the environment. • predicting the effect of land management • enjoy working outdoors options on natural resources • have an enthusiasm for maps and relationships Soil scientists. • helping to design hydrologic plans in in nature suburban areas • desire to be integral in environmental decisions • bring science and technology to issues involving • evaluating nutrient and water availability related to soil conservation, land use, water soil and water resources. to crops quality, or waste management • are well versed in the natural sciences. • have a willingness to communicate their • managing soils for landscape design, mine • play key roles in public and private decisions related knowledge about soils and the environment to reclamation, and site restoration to soil and water resources. all aspects of our society • regulating the use of land and soil resources by • are employed in the private sector with private and public interests Soil science . environmental and agricultural consulting firms. • encompasses biology, ecology, and a variety of • are employed with U.S. government and earth and other natural resource sciences. internation agencies. Civilization itself • interfaces with geology and geography. • may attend graduate school in soil science or closely related environmental, natural rests upon the Soil. • focuses on understanding, managing, and resource, or agricultural sciences. improving land and water. Thomas Jefferson.