SOIL SCIENCE INTEGRATED LEARNING AND CAREER OPPORTUNITY PARTNERSHIP

What we do

SOIL-COP aims to attract underserved students to pursue soil science careers and increase their enrollment and retention in undergraduate and graduate education through a coordinated multistate collaborative program. We are a consortium of eight HSI and emerging institutions from Texas and California encompassing diverse levels of education, from community colleges, 4-year universities, and advanced research universities. 

OUR GOALs

1) Create a student success and support program to attract and retain students interested in pursuing careers in soil sciences,
2) Establish an intercollegiate mentorship and leadership training program to support academic development, career placement, and success at all levels of undergraduate and graduate education,
3) Design and coordinate summer internships in soil sciences for undergraduate students
4) Develop freely accessible online curriculum and course materials in soil science
​

Promote
the Field of 
​Soil Science

By establishing a coordinated multistate collaborative program of emerging and Hispanic-serving higher education institutions to create a support program to attract and retain students interested in soil science.

Support
​Future
​Soil Scientists

By providing an intercollegiate mentorship and leadership training program to support academic development, career placement, and success at all levels of undergraduate and graduate education.

Expand Opportunities for  Students

By creating and coordinating a summer internship program in soil sciences for undergraduate students to gain professional skills and learn the critical roles that soils play in our quality of life.

POTENTIAL CAREERS in soil science

Environmental consultant

Assesses soil characteristics, contamination, and land use impacts, provides recommendations for sustainable practices, reclamation and remediation.​

​Environmental and geosciences consultants can work in companies, NGOs, local authorities or government agencies.​

Agronomy & Forestry soil specialist

Designs best management practices for maximizing crop or forest productivity and secures the sustainable use of soil and land resources.   

​Soil resource managers can work in the forest service, state or federal government agencies, or private companies.​​

soil scientist & Surveyor

Conducts soil surveys on private and public lands, develops land use interpretations that help the public interpret suitability of soils for sustainable land use and susceptibility of soils to degradation.

Many soil scientists and surveyors work within the National Cooperative Soil Survey and partners. 

Policy advisor

Develops, analyzes, and promotes policies to safeguard soil resources, ensuring sustainable practices and compliance with environmental regulations.​
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Advisors work at a state or federal government agency, NGOs, or private organizations.

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USDA-National Institute of Food And Agriculture (NIFA)# 2024-77040-43103 SSOIL-COP: Soil Science Integrated Learning and Career Opportunity Partnership