Minnesota Association of Professional Soil Scientists

Soils Education & Outreach

What is soil?

Soil is a natural body consisting of layers (horizons) that are primarily composed of minerals which differ from their parent materials in their texture, structure, consistency, color, chemical, biological and other characteristics. Soil relates to the earth as a system.

What to Soil Scientists Do?

Soil scientists work for federal and state governments, universities, and the private sector. The job of a soil scientist includes collection of soil data, consultation, investigation, evaluation, interpretation, planning or inspection relating to soil science. This career includes many different assignments and involves making recommendations about many resource areas.
http://soils.usda.gov/education/facts/careers.html

Perfect Storm Committee


At the Summer 2011 MAPSS business meeting, the Perfect Storm Committee (PSC) was established to coordinate several soil related events coming up in 2012 and 2013.  The members of the PSC are Gary Elsner, Suzanne Frances, Janine Anderson, Jim Balogh, and Al Giencke.

We are communicating with members and coordinating tasks associated with the events listed below.  The information on this page is a one source resource for members and the other committees working on Perfect Storm related tasks.  At the Annual Meeting in December 2011, the PSC presented an outline of the events and tasks (click here for a copy of the December 2011 outline) to be completed.

MAPSS State Soil Legislation (coordinated by the same members as the PSC)
MAPSS is partnering with the University of Minnesota Department of Soil, Water and Climate (DSWC) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in an effort to have Lester recognized as the official ‘Minnesota State Soil’ during the 2012 legislative session.  MAPSS has hired a lobbyist, Dan Larson, to assist us with this effort.  Our Senate bill is SF2254 and is sponsored by Senator Olson.   Our House bill is HF2910 and is sponsored by Representative Murdock.

Useful State Soil Documents and Links

MAPSS 40th Anniversary Sub-Committee 
The MAPSS 40th Anniversary sub-committee consists of Mark Wespetal, Barb McCarthy and Bob Anderson.  The charge of this committee includes:
  1. planning/coordination of MAPSS 40th Anniversary related events, activities and information
  2. work w/U of MN DSWC to coordinate/participate in DSWC 100th Anniversary events/activities

Currently, we know that the DSWC is planning a lecture series for 2013 that MAPSS will be partnering with them on.  Additionally, MAPSS is working on updating our history documents and will be working with the DSWC on connections between MAPSS and the DSWC.

Smithsonian Exhibit Sub-Committee

  • The charge of this committee includes:
  • Coordinate w/DSWC on bringing the Smithsonian Soils Exhibit to the Bell Museum in the fall of 2012
  • Arrange for/participate in planning for the opening of the exhibit
  • Coordinate MAPSS volunteers time at the exhibit while it is here
Currently, the DSWC is in the process of raising funds to bring the exhibit here in October of 2012. The exhibit would be at the Bell Museum and would be open for 3 months.   Watch this video of the exhibit in Spokane  http://forces.si.edu/soils/video/tour.html