One teaspoon of soil hosts up to one billion bacteria, meters of fungal hyphae, thousands of protozoa and tens of nematodes and arthropods. These organisms are constantly making war and peace to manage the nutrients, water, soil structure, disease organisms, and plant roots that make all other life on earth possible. As we strive to clean our water and air, restore wildlife habitat, sequester carbon and remediate degraded lands, we must understand the role that soil ecology plays in the success of these restoration efforts. In this course we will dive deep into the world belowground to understand how soil structure and and functioning influences the restoration process through biogeochemical cycling, microbial ecology, decomposition and plant-soil feedback. Students will learn about soil biotic and abiotic systems worldwide through lectures, seminars, readings and activities. Finally, for their course project, students will research a local restoration challenge that involves soil management by collecting and sending soils for analysis, evaluating their results and developing a restoration plan that incorporates soil health.
In-person Class Format: This course is offered fully in-person. Students should expect to attend in-person for all class periods. We cannot promise to offer remote attendance options due to illness or other absences. Students should strategize methods for getting notes from class when attendance is not possible.
Class Schedule: Monday nights, 6pm-10pm
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environmental studies