Promoting Soil Science at West Virginia University and Beyond As Part of the International Year of Soils.

The 68th United Nations General Assembly has declared 2015 the International Year of Soils (IYS). According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the purpose of the IYS 2015 is to “increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions.” The West Virginia University (WVU) Plant and Soil Science Club (PSSC) developed multiple initiatives in recognition of ISY 2015 to spread awareness of how soils influence our everyday life and inspire others to respect and nurture this vital resource. The goals of these initiatives were to (i) promote awareness about soils by engaging the WVU campus, Morgantown community, and beyond through multimedia displays, lectures, and other events that highlight the diversity of the soil resource and the essential ecosystem services it supports; and (ii) connect people to the soil resource using various educational and outreach efforts to communicate to a diverse group of students and members of the local community. Methods have included (i) a traveling display whose content and location on campus changes to reflect the monthly themes identified by the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), (ii) a Facebook page (facebook.com/wvu.pssc) with daily posts related to the monthly themes, and (iii) a public screening of Symphony of the Soil followed by a panel discussion.