Early Career members of the British Society of Soil Science from the University of Aberdeen enjoyed taking part in the Explorathon Discovery Day on the 28th September, talking to visitors about all things soil, plants and food production at their stand titled ‘What’s hidden under our feet? The role of soil in a sustainable future’. There were lots of young visitors who tried out being soil scientists for the day, looking at different soil measurements using equipment including pH meters, balances and moisture probes to detect differences between soil types. They could then get stuck in to learn about what lives in the soil, digging to find different soil microbes and invertebrates. Most visitors knew about worms living in the soil, but many were surprised to find other soil insects and microbes which they were interested to learn more about. Luckily, there were soil microbiology experts on hand to explain the role of microbes in nutrient cycling and plant growth and to demonstrate real-time measurements of microbe-driven gas emissions from the soil.
Visitors were encouraged to try out soil experiments at home using BSSS educational resources such as the ‘Great Worm Hunt’ and the ‘Jam Jar Experiment’ which were demonstrated at the stand. There were some great discussions about the multidisciplinary nature of soil research and how important this work is in today’s climate. Thank you to the British Society of Soil Science for their soil education resources, and Sofia Palacio, Lauren Tribbeck, Alexa Byers, Cecile Gubry-Rangin, Kate Whitehouse and Jack Henderson for organising and helping run the event!
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Dr Samuel Hibdige and Dr Emily Guest -
Susan Young - Garden Designer, Horticulturalist and Landscaper -
Professor Lorna Dawson
