Topic: Soils and Society: The Critical Zone

Catalog description

Soil is the literal beginning and ending of terrestrial life. And yet, humans spend far more time, energy, and money exploring space than exploring the intricate worlds of soil that we need to sustain us. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to soil science and to consider societal interactions with soil from a variety of perspectives. Particular attention will be given to the ways in which soils are essential for promoting food justice, environmental justice, and climate justice, and to traditional ecological knowledge and Indigenous cosmologies. The course will invite numerous guest speakers, prioritizing local practitioners who work directly with soil in terms of urban farming, community gardening, and composting, as well as soil scientists from around the world. While environmental issues impacting soils will be covered, the course will emphasize the life-affirming potentials of soils, particularly when cultivated with care by people. Several class sessions will be spent conducting hands-on activities tending to soils and conducting field analyses. The dirt under your feet is alive. Welcome to the wonders of soil.