These certifications provide clients, employers, and government agencies with a tool to help them choose professionals with the necessary skills to meet their needs.

SSSA completed an assessment of the grand challenges facing the soil science discipline in 2011, identifying the most critical future research needs in soil science: climate change; food and energy security; waste treatment and water quality; and human and ecosystem health.

More information on the grand challenges in soil science, including a list of short-, medium-, and long-term research goals, is available online.

News topics include Food & Health, Climate, Environment, Culture & Technology, and Soil Basics.

In addition, SSSA hosts www.soils4kids.org[21] where children can research soils topics, play games and explore careers.

The book explores how soil is part of our life – the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the houses we live in, and more.