A global perspective on soil science education at third educational level; knowledge, practice, skills and challenges

Charzyński, Przemysław; Urbańska, Magdalena; Capra, Gian Franco; Ganga, Antonio; Holmes, Peter; Szulczewski, Melanie; Baatar, Undrakh-Od; Boularbah, Ali; Bresilla, Betim; Cacovean, Horea; Datta, Ashim; Gadsby, Helen; Gargouri, Kamel; Gebregeorgis, Eyob Gebrehiwot; Giani, Luise; Grover, Samantha; Juliev, Mukhiddin; Kasparinskis, Raimonds; Kawahigashi, Masayuki; Kellermann, Liv Anna; ... (2022). A global perspective on soil science education at third educational level; knowledge, practice, skills and challenges Geoderma The Global Journal of Soil Science, 425(425), p. 116053. Elsevier 10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116053

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The pivotal role of soil as a resource is not fully appreciated by the general public. Improving education in soil science represents a challenge in a world where soil resources are under serious threat. Today’s high school students, the world’s future landowners, agriculturalists, and decision makers, have the potential to change society’s apathy towards soils issues. This research aimed to compare the level of soil education in high and/or secondary schools in forty-three countries worldwide, together comprising 62% of the world's population. Comparisons were made between soil science content discussed in educationally appropriate textbooks via a newly proposed soil information coefficient (SIC). Interviews with teachers were undertaken to better understand how soil science education is implemented in the classroom. Statistical analyses were investigated using clustering. Results showed that gaps in soil science education were most commonly observed in countries where soil science is a non-compulsory or optional subject. Soil science concepts are predominantly a part of geography or environmental science curricula. Consequently, considerable variability in soil science education systems among investigated countries exists. Soil information coefficient‘s outcomes demonstrated that a methodological approach combining textbooks and the use of modern digitally based strategies in the educational process significantly improved soil education performances. Overall, soil science education is under-represented in schools worldwide. Dynamic new approaches are needed to improve pivotal issues such as: i) promoting collaborations and agreements between high school and universities; ii) encouraging workshops and practical exercises such as field activities; and, iii) implementing technology tools. This, in turn, will prepare the next generation to contribute meaningfully towards solving present and future soil problems.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture > Plant Production and Biodiversity
Name:	Charzyński, Przemysław; Urbańska, Magdalena; Capra, Gian Franco; Ganga, Antonio; Holmes, Peter; Szulczewski, Melanie; Baatar, Undrakh-Od; Boularbah, Ali; Bresilla, Betim; Cacovean, Horea; Datta, Ashim; Gadsby, Helen; Gargouri, Kamel; Gebregeorgis, Eyob Gebrehiwot; Giani, Luise; Grover, Samantha; Juliev, Mukhiddin; Kasparinskis, Raimonds; Kawahigashi, Masayuki; Kellermann, Liv Anna; Kim, Kye-Hoon John; Krótka, Lenka; Kukuļs, Imants; Kunchulia, Ilia; Laaouidi, Younes; Leglize, Pierre; Mouketou-Tarazewicz, Dieudonne; Mugagga, Frank; Novák, Tibor József; Ortiz, Juan; Osuna-Vallejo, Veronica; Penížek, Vít; Tomov, Plamen; Prokofeva, Tatiana; Pulido, Manuel; Recha, Charles W.; Reintam, Endla; Repe, Blaž; Şahin, Salih; Salehi, Mohammad Hassan; Tankari Dan Badjo, Abdourahamane; Teperics, Károly; Törmänen, Tiina; Tsyrybka, Viktar; Vaisvalavičius, Rimantas; Vezzani, Fabiane and Zhang, Shugang
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General) L Education > LT Textbooks Q Science > QE Geology Q Science > QH Natural history S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
ISSN:	0016-7061
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Liv Anna Kellermann
Date Deposited:	16 Sep 2022 16:13
Last Modified:	18 Sep 2022 01:36
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116053
Related URLs:	Publication
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Soil information coefficient Upper secondary school High school Geography textbooks Worldwide comparison Soil education
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.17718
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/17718