There is more between heaven and earth than meets the eye. The soil critical zone – the earth’s “skin” – is one example. Studying this particular part of the earth is the focal point for a new international research education programme in Denmark.

In collaboration with 10 other Danish and foreign research institutes and faculties in five countries, the Institute of Agroecology and Environment at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus has established a new international research education programme to gain more insight into the area of the soil critical zone.

The new programme, Soil Technology and Interdisciplinary Research in Soil and Environmental Sciences (STAiR), focuses on the soil critical zone, which is the earth’s thin porous skin between the atmosphere and the ground water.

STAiR combines fundamental research in soil science with themes on a large and applied scale. Fundamental research areas include soil physics, soil chemistry and soil biology. Applied areas include climate and hydropedology (a discipline combining aspects from soil science and hydrology), and emerging soil and environmental technologies.

- STAiR is unique both nationally and internationally. We have established the first interdisciplinary programme in soil and environmental sciences in Denmark, uniting PhD students and internationally recognized scientists as their supervisors and teachers at six research units in Denmark, says senior scientist and head of the programme Lis Wollesen de Jonge from the Department of Agroecology and Environment at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus.

Strengthening soil and environmental research forces

The new programme allows Danish and foreign PhD students to freely access state-of-the-art laboratory and field facilities spanning different soil and climate zones. PhD courses within all five basic and applied themes will be offered. Danish and international partners will contribute with their expertise. The STAiR supervisors are soil scientists, agronomists, engineers, geologists, biologists, biotechnologists and chemists with strong international reputations.

An integral part of STAiR is a young scientist forum where the students can exchange knowledge. STAiR will also offer workshops and conferences.

- Soil resources are under increasing pressure due to global population growth and intensified agricultural and urban uses. While best known for its role in agricultural production of foods, soil is equally fundamental for energy production, waste disposal, ground water purity and recharge, and climate impact, says Lis Wollesen de Jonge.

Positive human control of the soil critical zone requires detailed knowledge and quantification of the interrelated physical, chemical and biological processes. We need an interdisciplinary approach to create a knowledge-based platform for directing processes within the earth’s critical zone towards safeguarding soil quality, human health and a habitable climate.

- What is needed is new research-based knowledge and a large number of individuals trained to understand the complex interdependencies so that they can contribute to making educated decisions affecting the future of our planet. This is the basis and our motivation for the STAiR programme and our vision for the future of environmental soil science and engineering, says Lis Wollesen de Jonge.

Please visit the STAiR website at www.stair.agrproject.dk

For more information please contact Senior scientist Lis Wollesen de Jonge, Department of Agroecology and Environment, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, telephone (+45) 8999 1752, e-mail: Lis.W.de.Jonge@agrsci.dk

Text: Janne Hansen