I came upon soil science when I began a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree at the University of Sydney. Originally intending to follow a ' career in research agronomy, I found soil far more interesting and soil science much broader in its application.
Having completed my degree, I spent two years based in Sydney as a Technical Offcer with the Soil Physics section of NSW Agriculture, then moved to Southern Cross University, Lismore, to take up a position as Research Assistant, investigating solute transport processes. I began my Masters in Applied Science (soil physics) at the same time. Ideally, I would like to complete a PhD and continue in soil physics research and perhaps move into the area of soil-plant relations.
Perhaps because soil science is not a 'mainstream' area of study, the market for soil scientists has not yet been flooded. Increasing public concern with environmental issues has kept a constant pressure on governing bodies to fund projects dealing with the problems Australia faces in such areas as soil erosion, salinity of water supplies and environmental pollution.
Information about soils and their behaviour is not only required by agriculural workers and researchers. It is becoming an essential part of other disciplines such as geology, engineering, hydrology and mining, which are traditionally male-dominated. Soil science has made a significant contribution to other sciences associated with management of the natural and man-made environment.
There is a need for continued monitoring of surface and groundwater quality, land use effects on agriculural sustainability and the fate of toxic chemicals and waste material in the soil. Environmental impact studies, so popular these days, only scratch the surface and may misrepresent the long-term situation simply because they are often only carried out before the proposed development.
Soil scientists work in government departments, as consultants and in universities. There are many labels that may be applied; soil conservationist, research officer, environmental consultant, and many more specific areas in which soil scientists choose to specialise, including soil physics, soil chemistry, soil microbiology, pedology and plant nutrition.
From my limited experience, it seems soil science is still very much a male-dominated field. As with many areas of science however, this situation is changing, particularly in university graduates of the past few years. This appears to hold true for those taking up postgraduate positions, either immediately after or within a couple of years of completing their undergraduate degrees.
The nature of soil science often necessitates relocation to rural communites or at least considerable travel within the job, which in the past has no doubt imposed limits on career advancement as far as women are concerned. There are many examples however, of women in soil science who have achieved as highly as their male counterparts and progressive attitudes will ensure this continues.