Soils and Global Change Ghent University

Overview

Key facts

Increased population pressure, industrialisation and intensive land use cause depletion of natural resources and limit the performance of land with respect to its functions such as biomass production, carbon sequestration, and water purification. The additive effects of climate change and the abovementioned aspects of global change influence the capacity of soils to sustain functions to provide planetary services and human wellbeing. Soil (pedosphere) forms the interface between the air (atmosphere) and the earth (lithosphere) and interacts with surface and groundwater (hydrosphere) and living organisms (biosphere). It is thus a vital component of ecosystems and needs to be secured..

Graduates of  Soils and Global Change programme from Ghent University are able to contribute to multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary work in different ecosystems. This allows them to navigate the often competing interests of land users, managers, and other stakeholders, and to understand and appreciate the various viewpoints at play. Additionally, students have a deep understanding of high-order targets such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international and European ambitions, such as the EU’s Green Deal. They are able to make conscious contributions to policy-relevant research, crucial for sustainable soil use and conserving soil health in the face of climate change.

IMSOGLO graduates will be able to:

• demonstrate a broad knowledge at an advanced level in basic disciplines: soil physics, soil biology, soil chemistry, land information systems
• explain the evolution of soil (agro-/forest/natural) ecosystems under natural conditions and human-impact, in relation to global change
• characterise soil, assess soil quality, and relate it to natural and anthropogenic factors
• conduct field work (soil survey, soil profile description, soil sampling), interpret analytical data, classify the soil, and manage and interpret existing geospatial (soil) data
• plan and execute target orientated experiments or simulations independently and critically evaluate the collected data
• demonstrate a holistic understanding of the interactions and processes in the agro-ecosystem and natural ecosystems, using statistical tools and advanced (geospatial) information- and modelling techniques
• act from a researchers’ perspective using creativity, accuracy, critical reflection, curiosity, and justifying choices based on scientific criteria