Soil Scientist

Soil Scientists study and classify various types of soil. You want to understand everything about soil—from its biological makeup to its physical properties. Typical duties include soil extraction, mapping, surveying, conducting lab research, and writing scientific reports.

A major part of your day-to-day responsibilities includes categorizing soil samples. This means you use sophisticated organization methods and scientific techniques to determine what chemical compounds are found in the soil, and how to best use each type. To do this, you determine, for example, how moist and dense a certain type of soil is, then map where it comes from. Soil Scientists also help uncover erosion patterns and advise people on how land will hold up in the future.

So why study soil? At first glance, this profession may not seem very special. Dirt, after all, is just a commonplace and even an undesirable thing—it gets stuck in our tires, tracked in by the dog, and embedded so deeply in our clothes that even the best detergent can’t get it out. What makes it extraordinary? As it turns out, a lot.

Soil is considered a natural resource. It is used to grow crops that supply the world with food. If Farmers use soil that does not contain high levels of nutrients, crops cannot grow strong and would yield few fruits and vegetables. Soil is also used in construction and conservation projects. Without knowing what kind of soil is best for a specific task, workers in these industries won’t be able to meet expectations.

So never let anyone underestimate your job as a Soil Scientist. It affects many more aspects of their lives than they probably know.