Taking soil science into the field
Eben “Blake” Hodgin, Daniel Ibarra and Brad Marston will develop a field-based soil research and education program that gives Brown undergraduates hands-on training in soil science across southern New England.
Taking soil science into the field
Eben “Blake” Hodgin, Daniel Ibarra and Brad Marston will develop a field-based soil research and education program that gives Brown undergraduates hands-on training in soil science across southern New England.
Eben “Blake” Hodgin, Daniel Ibarra, and Brad Marston will develop a field-based soil research and education program that gives Brown undergraduates hands-on training in soil science across southern New England.*
About the IBES Catalyst Research Awards
These annual awards provide funding for faculty-led, solutions-driven environmental research that crosses disciplines and has the potential for meaningful societal impact.
Students will investigate local soils through case studies examining glacial loess deposits, soil development around wetlands and coastal environments, and soil variation at enhanced-weathering experiment sites. In the process, they will develop practical skills in field sampling, soil and site evaluation, geochemical analysis, and environmental interpretation, with opportunities to carry their work into senior theses or capstone projects. The program will also expand Brown Soil Judging team and prepare students to participate in regional and national soil judging competitions.
The team finished 9th out of 17 total teams at the Regional contest in Maryland this September. Although the team narrowly missed qualifying for Nationals, it was the best performance by Brown since they began participating in 2024. The team is poised, with the support of IBES and a growing number of research opportunities, to continue growing and improving and to potentially qualify for Nationals next year.
“ As the 'skin' of our continents, soils represent the vital intersection of geology, the hydrological cycle, climate, and biology that supports terrestrial ecosystems. Our goal with this field-based program is to provide students with a deep understanding of the role soils play in ecosystems, agriculture, and climate solutions through hands-on projects and training. ”
*This award is supported by IBES' Student Transformative Engagement Pathways program.