Foresters do a lot of looking up while they work. This causes us to trip a lot, which is good for laughs if anyone is with us. Some criticize us for not looking down enough, but that really is not a true assessment. Soil scientists spend a lot of time looking down, and nobody gives them a hard time for not looking up; go figure. Once a year, soil scientists and foresters get together for the Central States Forest Soils Workshop, a field seminar where participants look both ways. Attendees from both disciplines range in age from college students to retirees, and everyone goes home richer in understanding of the resources we treasure. This fall it was in Southern Illinois, and there were over 160 participants. Next year it will be in Ohio. The location has not been announced, but you can probably Google it next August and find it.
Trivia: Foresters have to take soils courses, but soil scientists do not have to take forestry courses.
Retired Soil Scientist Dana G expounding on a hillside soil pit.
SIU Professor Charles Ruffner describing the effects of thinning and burning to foster oak regneration.
A pit in alluvial soil at Union State Tree Nursery. This pit had two soil types; a rare treat!
We look at landscapes, too. Here is Camel Rock at Garden of the Gods.
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