eLearnAfrica
Soil Science: Exploring the World Beneath our Feet
Lancaster University
  • Start Date: 28 Mar, 2022
  • 4 weeks
  • Study Content: Videos


Discover how soil is crucial for life on Earth, how humans impact this fragile system, and what we can do to better protect it.

Course Fee: Free
Certificate Cost: See Fees and Eligibility
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Course Description

Explore cutting-edge research into soil science with Lancaster University


Soils are a complex environment, teeming with life and supporting our most fundamental environmental processes.


On this four-week course, you’ll learn from groundbreaking research taking place at Lancaster University to understand the basics of soil science. You’ll also have the opportunity to get your hands dirty with practical experience in assessing soil properties and conditions.


This knowledge will help you understand why soil is so important and what we can do to protect our soils from the many threats they face.


Explore soil properties and what lives below the ground


There are more living things in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on the planet.


This course will help you discover the variety of life in the soil, including invertebrates, microbes, and fungi to understand the complex system beneath our feet.


Understand the importance of soil security


With a firm grasp of what soil is, you’ll explore the relationship between soils and the rise and fall of different civilisations.


This understanding will help you delve further into the importance of soil and how we can ensure its security.


Explore soil erosion, contamination, and other threats


Finally, you’ll learn about how and why soils are under threat at both a local and global scale.


Exploring issues such as climate change, air pollution, and invasive species, you’ll understand why we need to be doing more to protect our soils. With this knowledge, you’ll be inspired to take action for soil protection.


This course is designed for anyone interested in soils, biology, geography, and environmental science. No prior knowledge is required.


We are delighted the course has been popular with many different learners aged 18 – 75.


    • Certificate cost may vary. You will be redirected to the host page for cost and payment options.

    • Lancaster University

      Ranked in the global top 1%, Lancaster is a collegiate university with a world-class reputation for research and teaching excellence.

      Lancaster pioneers globally significant research and uses its expertise to shape policy and encourage debate. Located on a beautiful campus in the North West of England and one of a handful of collegiate universities, Lancaster places great emphasis on a strong student experience and research-led teaching delivered by academics who are experts in their field. Ranked 9th in the THE’s global ‘100 under 50’ university league table, the University has established a global reputation as a centre for research, scholarship and teaching with an emphasis on employability.

      Following the latest research assessment exercise over 90% of the research at Lancaster was found to be world leading or internationally significant with some key areas of research ranked top in the UK.

       

    • You may be able to download course materials after enrolling in this course. If not, all of the necessary course materials provided by the course instructor will be available on the provider's course page.
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