ERT 404—Soil Science - The Dirt on Dirt

Soil is all around us, yet it is often overlooked. Understanding soil science is an important part of training for geologists, geoscientists, environmental scientists, biologists, engineers, and many others. Being able to identify soils and understanding how they function is key to managing natural resources, preventing geologic hazards, contaminant remediation, ecosystem restoration, carbon sequestration, stabilizing our infrastructure, and other essential functions. This course will explore all of these aspects, drawing from intersections between geology, hydrology, environmental science, engineering, biology, geography, and toxicology. By the end of this course, you’ll know all about soil and its ‘dirty’ secrets. You may even be so impressed that you’ll begin to call it ‘soil’ out of respect.