Soil Science Society of America Soils Sustain Life

Soil Science Society of AmericaSoil Science Society of America

Soils Sustain LifeSoils Sustain Life

www.soils.org

Soil Science Society of America | www.soils.org

Who We AreWho We Are

International, Progressive, Scientific

SSSA fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to sustain global soils and is dedicated to advancing the field of soil science. It provides information about soils in relation to crop production, environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste management, recycling, and wise land use.


Who We AreWho We Are

• 6000+ Members

• Students (Undergrad & Grad), Professionals, Emeritus, Corporations

• 18% International

• 13% employed by Industry, 34% by Academia, 15% by governments (remaining are students, other employers, unknown)

• Founded in 1936

• Headquarters in Madison, WI, with a Science Policy Office in Washington, DC

• 45 staff (shared with ASA and CSSA)


The Value of MembershipThe Value of Membership

• Influencing Public Opinion/Science Policy

• Publishing Research

• Presenting and Attending Annual Meetings

• Accessing Career Resources

• Networking

• Leadership Opportunities

• Supporting the Profession


Student ActivitiesStudent Activities

• Students of Agronomy, Soils, and Environmental Sciences – 400+ members– Annual Meeting

– Poster and Oral Competitions

– Student Leadership

– Golden Opportunity Scholars Program

• Graduate Students – 900+ members– Sub-Committee of Membership Committee

– Annual Meetings – 7 SSSA division student competitions

– Branch Meetings – student competitions-oral & poster

– Membership

– Awards (fellowships, internships, etc.)


Influencing PolicyInfluencing Policy

• Congress (Congressional Visits)• White House (OSTP, PCAST)• Agencies (NOAA, NSF, DOE, DOD,

USGS, EPA, USDA, NASA)

– Seek federal funding for agronomic, crop and soil sciences

– Advocate for our sciences funded through USDA, NSF, Department of Energy Office of Science, NASA, NOAA and other agencies

– Coalitions, Commodity Groups, etc.


Science Policy EffortsScience Policy Efforts

• Congressional Visit Days• Congressional Soils Caucus• Core Constituent Scientist

Teams (CCSTs)• Congressional Science Fellows• Interns• Current Issues:

– Climate change, C sequestration, environment, energy, agroecosystems, frontier science, global hunger…


Smithsonian ExhibitionSmithsonian Exhibition

• Dig It! The Secrets of Soil• 5,000-square-foot exhibition at the

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

• Supported by SSSA as the Founding Sponsor

• Included interactive displays, hands-on models, videos, and 54 soil monoliths representing soils from each U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia

• Open from July, 2008 to January, 2010• Currently arrangements are being

developed for the exhibit to travel to various museums in around the country


PublicationsPublications

• Journals– White papers, editorials,

research articles

• Magazines – CSA News, Crops & Soils

• Books• Custom Content


New Content: Custom PublishingNew Content: Custom Publishing

• Customers select combinations of articles, book chapters and their own front matter (e.g., a syllabus, cover art)

• Authors publish their classroomlab manuals with us– make updates each semester– available to other customers for

purchase


International MeetingsInternational Meetings

• SSSA, ASA, CSSA Joint Annual Meetings, Long Beach, CAOctober 31-November 4, 2010

• Keynote Speakers & Symposia – SSSA Plenary Session– Division Symposia

• Hot topics, cutting-edge research, social/networking opportunities


Science CommunicationsScience Communications

Outreach to the media and public to tell the story of soils and soil science and its importance in everyone’s quality of life.

– Press Releases– Extensive SSSA Website– Featured Scientific Articles

•Follow us on Twitter: @ASA_CSSA_SSSA•Facebook•Subscribe to our RSS Feeds


CertificationsCertifications

• SSSA offers two certifications:– Certified Professional Soil Scientist

(CPSS)– Certified Professional Soil Classifier

(CPSC)

• Components of Certification Include:– Education– Work Experience– Fundamentals Exam


Explore Job OpportunitiesExplore Job Opportunities

• Free resume posting

(members-only)

• Online job and graduate school postings

• Annual Meeting job interviews


Career Resources & Career Resources & AwardsAwards

• Awards, Fellows

• Scholarships

• Fellowships

• Internships– Science Policy (DC)

– Science Communications (HQ)

• Online Career Resources


SSSA Divisions of InterestSSSA Divisions of Interest• Forest, Range, and Wildland Soils• Nutrient Management & Soil and Plant Analysis• Pedology• Soil and Water Management & Conservation• Soil Biology & Biochemistry• Soil Chemistry• Soils & Environmental Quality• Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition• Soil Mineralogy• Soil Physics• Wetland Soils


K-12 ActivitiesK-12 Activities

• Developed and promoted through the SSSA K-12 Committee

• Objective to increase interest and awareness of soil science and related sciences as a scientific pursuit and career choice, especially among K-12 teachers and their students.

• www.soils.org/lessons• Developed an Ask a Soil Scientist program• Wrote Soil! Get the Inside Scoop book for

middle-school level students – working ona teacher guide


Member BenefitsMember Benefits

• Monthly CSA News magazine• Discounts on subscriptions and books• Access to the Membership Directory• Access to the Scientific Expertise Directory• Biweekly e-newsletters – Newsflash and Science

Policy Report• Opportunity to present poster and oral papers

in SSSA divisions at the Annual Meetings• Free online posting of your resume• Membership in Divisions of Interest• Discounts on meeting registrations


Membership OpportunitiesMembership Opportunities

• Awards, Scholarships, Fellowships• Volunteer for Society Activities• Participate in Science Policy

Activities• Discount on Compensation Survey• Supporting the Profession


Leadership OpportunitiesLeadership Opportunities

• Committees• Task Forces• Divisions• Editorial Boards• Board of Directors• Leadership Development

Workshops


Professionalism!Professionalism!

Why am I an SSSA member? The short answer is, “I want to be a professional.”

SSSA helps me stay current, and provides a framework from which I can communicate the relevance of soil science to my students.

Clay Robinson, PhDaka “Dr. Dirt”

Texas A&M University


So … Get Involved!So … Get Involved!

• Meet new peopleMeet new people• Broaden professional Broaden professional

contactscontacts• Become professionally Become professionally

involvedinvolved• Influence policyInfluence policy• Find a jobFind a job• Advance your careerAdvance your career• Learn new skillsLearn new skills• Make Positive Changes!Make Positive Changes!


www.soils.org/membership

Thank you.

Join Today!Join Today!

Documents

Soil Science Society of America Soils Sustain Life