Newswise — MADISON, WISCONSIN (May 15, 2012) – Dirty water grabbed Elizabeth Gebhardt's attention as a teenager, but the young college student is now helping others understand-- dirty and soil-- are not the same. “I enjoy communicating about science and the environment because I feel strongly that environmental issues should be in the public dialogue and presented in a relevant, understandable, and interesting way. It’s easy to forget about environmental issues, especially if you’re living in an urban area, but it’s never been more important to recognize and act on them,” explains Gebhardt, an undergraduate in the Agricultural Journalism Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and current graduate student at Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont. The 28-year-old grew up in New London, a small Northeast Wisconsin city. One walk along the Fox River in nearby Appleton, changed her outlook and her future. Gebhardt says, “My dream job would fuse several of my interests – agriculture, environment, sociology, social justice – to make a difference in people’s lives. I want to contribute to a global environmental dialogue that helps motivate and mobilize people to learn about and solve environmental issues.” Gebhardt’s plan-- is in motion. Though still in school, she is one of the driving forces of an important international public outreach campaign with a simple message: “I heart Soil.” The Soil Science Society of America is the Madison-based nonprofit behind the idea. And Gebhardt is part of a small team pushing soil science awareness and education, around the globe. “Our message is being spread in classrooms, universities, private companies, government agencies, on farms, and more – along with the enthusiasm many people bring to the subject of soil. It’s also wonderful to hear about projects going on around the world and tied in to this campaign. School gardens, field days, outreach efforts, and research helps spread the message of the importance of soil,” says Gebhardt. The campaign features easy to use materials supporting the “I heart Soil” theme, along with stickers, rulers, and bookmarks meant to keep the message visible. There are also public service announcements being placed to explain soil’s importance in everyday life, an interactive website, social media channels, and even t-shirts. Gebhardt calls the response-- something she dreamed about as a young girl by the polluted river. And her success is creating valuable confidence as she prepares to take the next step. Gebhardt says, “My greatest hope for the world is that we can learn to live consciously and sustainably. Soil conservation is a big part of this, but of course there are many other facets. I hope people are able to make the connection between their actions and the environmental ramifications, especially as our natural resources are stretched in the coming decades.”
The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is a progressive, international scientific society that fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to sustain global soils. Based in Madison, WI, SSSA is the professional home for 6,000+ members 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.
SSSA supports its members by providing quality research-based publications, educational programs, certifications, and science policy initiatives via a Washington, DC, office. Founded in 1936, SSSA proudly celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 2011. For more information, visit www.soils.org or follow @SSSA_soils on Twitter.
RSS