Learning to speak for the soil

Soil degradation is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century. Soil science educators can teach students how to speak for the soil and advocate for the conservation and sustainable management of soils. I have developed soil science communication activities that allow students to learn fundamental soil concepts from diverse perspectives and recognize what effective soil science communication looks like. The activities draw from public talks and essays from soil scientists. I will share the content, format, and pedagogy of each activity and reflect on the role of education in advancing conservation and responsible management of soils.