Why I write about soil

I see the world through a soil lens and can’t help but write about it.

A soil profile in the floodplain of the Mississippi River in Wisconsin, USA. Photo by the author.

When I first learned about the diversity of soils, I felt like I had stumbled upon a hidden part of the natural world. I began studying soil science as an undergraduate student and quickly became enchanted by the many colors, shapes, and forms of soils. I was curious to learn more and followed that seed of curiosity with wild enthusiasm, leading me to a career I would never have expected.

Frankly, I did not see myself becoming a scientist, nor did anyone in my family. Growing up, we all expected I would become some kind of entertainer — a dancer, singer, comedian, television host — but a scientist? It just didn’t sound like me, and honestly, sometimes it still doesn’t. There’s just something about the soil that drew me in.

In the years since I have become a bit obsessed, you might say, with the beauty and wonder of soil. I was fascinated early on by the perplexing biodiversity of soils and went to specialize in soil ecology. I grew into my identity as a scientist as I learned about how soils form and function, studied the physical, chemical, and biological interactions within soils, and grappled with the global environmental challenges that threaten their very existence.

I was a student of soil science. I read textbook after textbook, devoured scientific…