The National Academies convened a workshop of experts in soil science and associated disciplines to identify emerging research opportunities and expected advances in soil science, particularly in the integration of biological, geological, chemical, and information technology sciences. An important challenge in soil science is the need for interdisciplinary research involving classical soil science sub-disciplines, namely soil chemistry, soil physics, soil biology, soil mineralogy, and pedology. While basic research provides an understanding of fundamental soil processes, increasing trends in land transformation, related environmental considerations, and policy issues require interdisciplinary approaches. To successfully address major research needs, soil scientists must collaborate with each other and with scientists in related disciplines. The workshop on Frontiers in Soil Science Research addressed the emerging research opportunities in soil science and the integration of the biological, physical, geological, and chemical sciences within soil science. The objectives of the workshop were to: 1) identify particular research priorities and potential breakthroughs within soil science; 2) identify the interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research areas in which soil science is involved, particularly in the field of biogeoscience; and 3) identify technological and computational needs to advance soil science. Further project information is available on the National Academies’ Current Projects System site. A workshop report will be released in 2007.

Sponsors National Science Foundation Department of Energy USDA Agricultural Research Service Soil Science Society of America Staff Contact Lois Peterson Sr. Program Officer 202-334-1747 Kofi Kpikpitse Program Associate 202-334-2339 The National Academies 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Fax: 202-334-2231