Soils and Sustainability

Course Overview

Soils underpin the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems and are key to food production. Soils form the basis of all agricultural production, but they also store water, mediate the impact of pollutants, provide biological habitats, have an impact on the accumulation of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, are involved in dealing with society-s waste, are a source of extractable minerals and provide the foundations for the housing and roads on which society depends. You will learn about soil function and management, and soil classification, assessment and analysis, with a strong emphasis on practical skills. You will gain expertise in the relationship between soil and sustainable approaches to land resource use. The MSc Soils and Sustainability degree is awarded by the University of Edinburgh. Field trip, An integral, week-long study tour lets you refresh skills learned on the programme and develop new tools and techniques, useful during the dissertation process. The tour is currently held in Mende, France. In addition to the formal taught component, we organise rafting and visit the Aven Armand caves. There may also be a short tour during induction week, to give students a chance to get to know each other.