This course offered an extensive look into the deceptively simple world of soil. It began by defining what soil is, which was a surprisingly more complex issue than one would expect. An important aspect of defining soil is first defining the processes that form it. Once defined, we moved onto topics like soil content, structure, and classification. Learning the details of soil taxonomy allowed us to classify the soils and categorize them based on there various characteristics. We covered the basics of soil chemistry, and from there the class continued with the study of the intricate interactions between soil and a variety of factors, including water, gas, and biological interactions. This course also provided some hands-on experience in field sampling methods, as well as a number of lab techniques for testing soil properties, such as pH, electrical conductivity, porosity, and bulk density.
I'll admit, this class was far more interesting than I had initially expected. Prior to this class, my knowledge of soil was that of the average person. The whole topic appeared to be fairly straight forward to me. I mean how complicated can something like dirt be, right? Well it didn't take long for me to become aware of my ignorance. This class broke down the door to an incredibly complex world that had been hiding under my feet the whole time. I knew that geology and soil were connected, but it wasn't until this course that I really understood how. I can honestly say that after this class, I'll never look at soil the same way again.
Taking this course has actually made me more excited about my major. I know that most career Environmental Geologists commonly work with soils, so this course offered me a nice glimpse into my future. Whatever my future job involves, I believe the knowledge and experience I've gained in this course will prove to be foundational to my understanding.