Welcome to the “Ask a Soil Scientist” program. If you are a student or teacher in grade school or high school and have any question on soils, soil science, and careers in soil science, this is the place to get answers. In addition, teachers can use this tool to request a Soil Scientist to visit the classroom. Teachers can also check out this helpful guide to find scientists to visit the classroom.
Due to the high volume of questions, our Ask a Soil Scientist program is limited to K-12 teachers and students. If you are a homeowner and have questions on soils (including soil test results), we recommend you contact your local Extension office (U.S. based).
If you are a professional with a soil science question, consider an SSSA Membership - which will provide you access to the Membership and Scientific Expertise Directories. You may also wish to consult with a Certified Professional Soil Scientist. For college students and any research questions try searching our journals.
Your question(s) will be posted to a Discussion Board where a Soil Science Society of America member will respond. As our members are volunteers with this program, please allow time for a response. Watch your email for a link to the Ask a Soil Scientist discussion board for responses from our scientists. If you requested a Classroom Visit, staff will be contacting you as soon as possible. If you have any further questions about the process, please contact us at schapman@soils.org
Are you willing to answer questions from the K-12/general public audience for your geographic area? Sign up here (select the appropriate working groups) Please note: You must be a current member/emeritus member and have at least three years of SSSA membership to qualify.
Please fill out the following form to submit your question.
Purpose Do you have a question or are you looking for a soil scientist to visit your classroom? Question Classroom Visit
Your Information
Name* City* State/Province*
Please select one of the following:* Student Teacher
Please select grade level: K-4 5-8 9-12
Email Address*
Confirm Email Address*
What is your question?*
Why do you need this information? (Our intent is not to answer class assignments but to provide background information on projects, general information on soil uses, or provide resources for educators.)
*Required
For verification purposes, please enter (as a number) the number described below. Enter number here
For high school and introductory college students, gain a foundation about the world of soils with our book - Know Soil, Know Life.
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