We hope you enjoy learning all about soil and how important soil is in all our lives. Did you know though that there are lots of possible careers that you can follow where knowing about soil is part of the job. Here are a few examples.
Civil Engineer
Civil engineers often work with soil - building large structures such as roads, railways and buildings can involve moving very large piles of soil. For example, to build the foundations of a bridge the soil is scraped away and the bridge built. An understanding of soil is important when reinstating the site - or rather putting the area back together again after the work. The soil taken away has to be stored correctly and put back in the right way to encourage plants to quickly take root and grow.
Farmer and Horticulturalist
Clearly soil is fundamental to the success of modern farming and horticulture - whether arable crops are grown, or where there is a grazing herd. The health of the crop or livestock depends upon correct soil management. There are certain times of the year when driving onto the land in heavy machinery can damage the soil structure. So undertanding how the soil system works is important - working in harmony with the environment. Equally, responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers is also important - and soils behave differently to each other. Many land-based industries involve an understanding of the land and landscape.
The Water Companies
Our drinking water comes from river abstractions and from groundwater abstractions - from aquifers underground. The water in the rivers and aquifers has fallen as rain and passed through the soil on the way to the water treatment plant and ultimately our tap. Understanding the environmental processes in the area of land draining to a river (called the catchment or watershed) is key to securing the quality we expect from our water.
The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency, or EA, are responsible for managing the state of the natural environment in England and Wales. A similar organisation SEPA operate in Scotland. The EA are the 'regulator' of industries and processes that have an impact on the environment. Understanding the soil is an important part of looking after the environment.
Archaeologist
Our history is beneath our feet - literally. Soil protects and preserves our heritage and the story of our past. Different soil types protect artefacts in different ways. Knowing about the properties of soil can therefore help archeologists to predict how items may be in differing locations - and also how to care for items once they are 'unearthed'.
Environmental Scientist
Environmental science is a popular subject taught and researched in many colleges and universities. Environmental scientists learn about the way the systems in the natural and human worlds work and overlap, and how these systems can be managed. Soil is an important component of the wider biosphere - along with air and water. There are many career opportunities for environmental scientists, such as some of those on this page.
Civil Servant
Civil servants work for local and national government in a vast array of jobs. There are many jobs with a direct relevance to soil - from rangers and park keepers, to scientists developing national and european environmental and agricultural policies.
Conservation and Ecology worker
Whether as a career, or even as a volunteer, conservation and ecology workers help to manage and run nature reserves and parks, and to protect the environmental quality and
biodiversity in the countryside. There are a number of trusts and charities with such responsibilities, and soil will be a factor in the decisions that are taken.
Gardener
Even if you choose a career that is completely unrelated to soil - we hope that you will keep an interest in environmental matters and learn more about how soil plays a role in our lives. One pleasant way to do this is to become a gardener, or if you don't have a garden you can always rent an allotment to grow plants and vegetables in, or plant up some fine window box displays!
