Reclaiming Land and Soil on Northern Diamond Mine Sites

How do you make soil where there isn’t any? We often take for granted this resource so essential to life on our planet – you just look down, and there it is. However, some environments, such as those impacted by humans, lack the building blocks for healthy ecosystems. Without soil there can’t be vegetation, and…

Soil Caricatures, Art, and Outreach: A Conversation with Lewis Fausak

What sparks your curiosity for science? What makes you dive deeper into the questions of how things work? Many of us enjoy different fields of science, with favourite questions or topics that keep us engaged. Maybe you have a fascination with a particular animal, dinosaur, or constellation in the night sky. But, do you have…

Soil Microbes and Antimicrobials: Scent-sational Streptomyces

What's that smell? Do you remember the last time you were caught outside in the rain? Do you remember what it smelled like? If you were walking through a field or the local park, you might remember a deep, earthy smell, usually associated with wet soil. Have you ever considered where this smell comes from?…

How does soil affect agricultural systems and greenhouse gases? An Interview with Gazali Issah

Greenhouse gases and their environmental impacts are a topical issue. However, developing an understanding of how different systems impact greenhouse gases and global climate requires a more innovative, interdisciplinary lens. Studying all aspects of a system, from beneath the soil and up, is essential to understanding these systems’ actual environmental impacts. An interview with soil…

Innovating Soil Mapping: An Interview with Asim Biswas

Soil is different everywhere that you go. Even a short walk may reveal different types and profiles of soil. Predicting how these soils will differ is essential to larger systems, like building effective agricultural or environmentally safe processes. It is these soil fundamentals that Asim Biswas aims to understand. Asim is an Associate Professor in…