Soil and Water Science Department

August 14-15, 2008        University of Florida     Gainesville, FL

This exclusive training program focuses on the functions of soils in the environment. These functions include soil as a medium for plant productivity, a regular for water supply, recycler of waste material, a habitat for organisms including humans, and as an engineering medium. Presentations will be on general occurrence, distribution and morphology, along with their physical, chemical, mineralogical and biological characteristics.

Morning lectures address background information and examples of the role of soil in our everyday
life. Afternoon field trip is designed to provide field examples of material covered during morning lectures. Emphasis will be on the morphology and land use interpretations. The course is offered August 14 and 15 and provides 12.5 hours of training and instruction. A Certificate of Completion will be provided upon conclusion of the course, and enrollment is limited to the first 20 registrants. 

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Participants should be interested in or actively involved in soil identification, use, development, and interpretation of properties and data. Those employed in the following occupations would greatly benefit by participating in this course:

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Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

   1. Be capable to evaluate a soil for on-site waste water
        treatment

   2. Understand and evaluate a soil for shrink-swell conditions

   3. Be proficient to determine seasonal high soil water table

   4. Be adept at determining a soil’s texture

   5. Be able to interpret a soil for potential development

   6. Explain why certain soils exist in Florida

   7. Understand how soils are mapped

   8. Be competent to utilize a county soil survey

   9. Be able to know what soil tests to ask for when sampling soils

  10. Be confident to take additional Soil and Water Science short courses

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Instructors

Mary E. Collins is a Professor in the Soil and Water Science Department at the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). Her expertise includes environmental pedology, ground-penetrating radar, forensic soil science, and subaqueous soils. Dr. Collins’ primary teaching responsibility is “Introduction to Soils in the Environment”.

James Bonczek is a lecturer in the Soil and Water Science Department. His principal research interests include reactions of ionizable organic compounds at clay surfaces, and the modification of soil colloid properties using cationic surfactants.

Training Site

This course will be held on the campus of the University of Florida and at the Plant Science Research and Education Center at Citra, Florida. Lecture and in-door labs will be at the Soils Teaching Lab on campus. The field lab will be at Citra. Field clothes are recommended. Water and refreshments will be provided. A map with detailed directions to teaching lab on campus and to the field site will be mailed to you upon receipt of your registration.

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Daily Agenda

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Friday, August 15, 2008

Course Topics:

• What Is Soil? – It Is Not Dirt!

• Why Are There So Many Soils? – Fundamentals of Soil Properties

• The ABC’s of Soil Science

• How Wet Is My Yard? – Soil-Water Table Dynamics

• What Information about Soil Is Available? – How Do I Use That Information?

• What Do I See When I Dig a Hole? – Field Applications of Acquired Knowledge

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Enrollment in this course is limited to the first 20 participants and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that a copy of the course manual is included and has already been added to the registration below.

The registration fee includes: a copy of the course manual and morning refreshments each day. It would be advisable for attendees to bring field clothes for the field trip, a field knife and tape measure. Participants are on their own for all meals.

All figures are presented in US dollars ($).

Registration will close on July 30, 2008 or when class size limit it reached.

A receipt and confirmation of registration will be emailed immediately upon receiving your completed registration and proper payment.

Refund Policy: Requests for registration refunds will be honored if written notification of cancellation is received by the Office of Conferences & Institutes on or before July 30, 2008. A $50.00 processing fee will be deducted from all refunds. Sorry, no refunds will be honored for cancellations after July 30, 2008.

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Several hotel and motel establishments are available in the Gainesville area to provide guest room accommodations throughout the course. Participants are responsible for making their own hotel guest room reservations, and a list of properties and applicable guest room rates will be sent to you upon request.
 

Gainesville Area Lodging Options

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