Zoom into Soil: Evidence-based approaches for soil science outreach

In this webinar, Prof. Louise Archer and Dr. Mark Nason discuss evidence-based approaches for better soil science outreach.

Louise Archer will be speaking on ‘Supporting equitable outreach and participation in STEM’. Louise is the Karl Mannheim Professor of Sociology of Education at UCL and co-chair of the Centre for Sociology of Education and Equity. Her research seeks to understand educational identities and inequalities, in relation to social class, gender and race/ethnicity across primary, secondary, higher and informal learning contexts. She has authored over 100 academic publications and directed numerous large-scale national and international research studies. She is a fellow of the British Academy and the Academy of Social Sciences. She is particularly interested in participatory approaches, working with teachers, professionals and young people in ways that can support more equitable educational policies and practices.

Dr Mark Nason is Head of Professional Practice at the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and the Chair of the Outreach Committee at BSSS. He has worked in education and research for over 20 years. At Bangor University, he completed a PhD in soil organic matter formation at post-industrial sites, followed by two post-doctoral research positions in plant physiology and soil construction for land restoration. After moving into Further Education, he qualified as a teacher and has worked for the Chichester and Cornwall College Groups. In his earlier roles, he lead the development of applied Higher Education courses at Eden Project Learning, teaching plant-soil science to horticulture and ecology students, and maintaining a strong interest in soil construction and the development of soil processes during restoration.