The Soil Science Society of America is one of the most prestigious disciplinary organizations for soil scientists, and several faculty members in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences will receive honors at the 2015 International Annual Meeting in November.

• Thomas Borch, professor of soil and crop sciences with a joint appointment in chemistry, will receive the Marion L. and Chrystie M. Jackson Soil Science Award. This award is designed to recognize a mid-career soil scientist who has made outstanding contributions in the areas of soil chemistry and mineralogy.
• Keith Paustian, professor of soil and crop sciences, will receive the Soil Science Applied Research Award. This award is made to recognize outstanding achievement in applying research principles to solve practical problems in soil science.
• Lee Sommers, professor emeritus of soil and crop sciences, will receive the Soil Science Distinguished Service Award. The philosophy and purpose behind the award is to recognize outstanding service to soil science by distinguished members of SSSA based on the nominee’s contributions during his or her career.

In addition, Steven Rosenzweig, a graduate student working with Assistant Professor of Soil and Crop Sciences Meagan Schipanski, will receive the Gary Peterson Dryland Soil Management Scholarship. Robert Miller, a faculty affiliate in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, will receive the Soil Science Industry and Professional Leadership Award.

Academic excellence

“Having so many honorees among this year’s award recipients speaks to the caliber of our research and the quality of education we provide,” said Mark Brick, acting head of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. “Being recognized by an organization so central to our discipline is a tangible demonstration of our academic excellence as judged by our peers.”

CSU’s Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is part of the College of Agricultural Sciences, and many of its faculty members collaborate with colleagues in CSU’s Warner College of Natural Resources as well as CSU’s Colleges of Engineering and Health and Human Sciences. The department’s areas of focus include: soil and crop management; plant breeding and genetics; seed science; environmental soil sciences; soil resources and conservation; precision agriculture; and ecosystem management.

The Soil Science Society of America

The Soil Science Society of America is a progressive international scientific society that fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to sustain global soils. Based in Madison, WI, and founded in 1936, SSSA is the professional home for 6,000+ members and 1,000+ certified professionals dedicated to advancing the field of soil science. The Society provides information about soils in relation to crop production, environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste management, recycling, and wise land use.

For more information visit the website.