News - University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus
GLOBE’s Asia and Pacific Regional Coordination Office Proposes “Soil in School” Campaign
To encourage GLOBE students and teachers in the region, and in conjunction with World Soil Day, the Asia and Pacific Regional Coordination Office (RCO) is proposing a “Soil in School” campaign. The campaign will encourage students to take action to protect soil biodiversity and to be part of the “change" for sustainability – which begins in the classroom and expands to the school and out into the community.
The campaign mission is to observe soil in schools and to upload measurements into the GLOBE database. During this process, students can discover the invaluable role soil plays in the carbon cycle, learn about GLOBE’s pedosphere protocols, and use data to better understand the potential for plant growth.
To learn more about the Soil in School Campaign, contact the Asia and Pacific RCO at www.globeasiapacific.org
Campaign Activities
Campaign activities include:
- Webinars – where students can learn from scientists about pedosphere and how soil characterization measurements offer in-depth observation of long-lasting properties of the soil column – and get inspired, and inspire others.
- Data Collection – where students can engage in hands-on soil temperature and moisture measurement activity.
- Student Presentations – where students can engage in the presentation of STEM projects and students research projects. (GLOBE students from selected participating GLOBE schools get the opportunity to present their GLOBE-based projects.)
- Opportunities – where students will get the opportunity to cooperate with partner school(s) from their country or abroad; including expedition and exchange programs.
To learn more about the Soil in School Campaign, contact the Asia and Pacific RCO at www.globeasiapacific.org
World Soil Day – 05 December (Soils: Where Food Begins)
World Soil Day (WSD) is held on 05 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources. In 2002, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) recommended an international day to celebrate soil. Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand, and within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, has supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness-raising platform. The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly responded by designating 05 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day. FAO, within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP), has received the official mandate to facilitate the implementation of the World Soil Day.
Soil nutrient loss is a major soil degradation processes threatening nutrition and is recognized as being among the most important problems at a global level for food security and sustainability all around the globe. World Soil Day 2022 (#WorldSoilDay) and its campaign "Soils: Where food begins" aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil awareness and encouraging societies to improve soil health.
To learn more about World Soil Day, click here.
News origin: GLOBE Implementation Office