News Release

August 2, 2021 – It’s easy to see soil out in the countryside of rolling farm fields. But more than 80% of Americans live, work, and play in urban areas. This can create a disconnect between people and soils – to the detriment of both. The August 1^st Soils Matter blog explores a study of how people view soil.

According to blogger Erica Wohldmann, “Rarely do policymakers, city planners and urban residents consider soil as a living resource, connected to the services it provides. I worked with a team of researchers to study how people view and interact with soil. The results can help us know what education and policies to develop to protect this natural resource.”

The researchers surveyed four groups: residents, professionals connected to soil science disciplines (like planners and landscape designers), policy makers, and educators. The questions ranged from their knowledge and values around soils, to budgets and practices. To find out the results, read the entire blog: https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2021/08/01/how-do-soils-and-humans-impact-one-another/

Follow SSSA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SSSA.soils, Twitter at SSSA_Soils. SSSA has soils information on www.soils.org/discover-soils, for teachers at www.soils4teachers.org, and for students through 12^th grade, www.soils4kids.org.

The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is a progressive international scientific society that fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to sustain global soils. Based in Madison, WI, and founded in 1936, SSSA is the professional home for 6,000+ members and 1,000+ certified professionals dedicated to advancing the field of soil science. The Society provides information about soils in relation to crop production, environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste management, recycling, and wise land use.