UMN Department of Soil, Water, and Climate

04/08/2026

Land & Atmospheric Science student Jake Kundert presented his PhD defense seminar on Monday, March 23, titled "Crop-Soil Reciprocity: Carbon Cycling, Soil Health, and Farm Economics in Contrasting Midwestern Agroecosystems." Jake was advised by Drs. Jess Gutknecht, Josh Gamble, and Jake Jungers. Having successfully defended, Jake is off to Burlington, Vermont for a postdoc position with the USDA-ARS Food Systems Research Unit. Congratulations, Jake!

03/26/2026

Thank you CFANS for sharing this lovely story about SWAC aluma and researcher Nancy Bohl Bormann in honor of the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer!

02/12/2026

The Department of Soil, Water, & Climate is excited to announce our search for two new faculty members: an Assistant Professor in Climate Science and an Assistant Professor in Soil Physics, Ecohydrology, or Hydropedology. Applications are open now at the links below. Initial review of applicants for both positions is scheduled for March 13, 2026. Please share widely with your networks.

Assistant Professor in Climate Science
Application URL: https://lnkd.in/gDJQ7V7m
Initial Review Date: Friday, March 13
Questions about the position, please contact Tim Griffis ([email protected])

Assistant Professor in Soil Physics, Ecohydrology, or Hydropedology
Application URL: https://lnkd.in/gkzEU4zb
Initial Review Date: Friday, March 13
Questions about the position, please contact David Mulla ([email protected])

02/11/2026

Check out the amazing art installation a team of U of M collaborators (including many from SWAC) made for the Art Shanty Projects last month!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out the Art Shanty Projects on BDé UMáŋ / Lake Harriet in Minneapolis! The project "Temporarily not soil" was constructed by a team of artists from University of Minnesota Extension, UMN Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, Water Resources Center, CFANS, and more. This underground adventure takes you into the hidden world beneath your feet. Explore lively networks of roots, microbes, and invertebrates, and soil – vibrant, wild, and full of life. https://artshantyprojects.org/portfolio/temporarily-not-soil/

12/09/2025

Catch SWAC faculty member Peter Neff tomorrow on a special "Ask Me Anything (AMA)" event hosted by PBS Newshour. “Tipping Point – Turning Science Into Solutions,” will bring together scientists, academics, digital creators, influencers and others to be interviewed about the challenges they face while communicating facts about science, climate, health and technology.

Tune in live starting at 10 AM CST tomorrow, Wednesday, December 10. You can watch the live broadcast at https://youtu.be/UPKxk3s-8Yc

To participate in the AMA, head over to Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1php5zh/were_pbs_news_and_were_trying_a_bold_experiment/

Leave your questions here in the chat, (live during the event) or in the Reddit AMA here:https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1php5zh/were_pbs_news_and_wer...

12/05/2025

Happy World Soil Day! Established by the United Nations in 2002, World Soil Day raises the awareness of the importance of soil health across the globe.

Here in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, our faculty, students, and research staff are digging deep into all the ways soil shapes our world.

11/20/2025

Wow! Thanks to you, we're over half way to our goal of $4,000 to support the Soil Judging Team's travels to the National Contest this spring and it's only midday. Let's get the team over the finish line by the end of the day!

A gift of any size goes a long way- every dollar counts. You can give here: https://crowdfund.umn.edu/participants/soil-judging

Soil judging is a highly impactful activity students can participate in, and the passion they bring is truly inspiring. Check out this Campus Curiosities video featuring former team captain Amital Shaver sharing how being part of the team shaped her undergrad experience.

11/20/2025

Today's the day! This Give to the Max Day, your gift will help send our hardworking Soil Judging Team to compete in the National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest in Raleigh, North Carolina this coming spring!

Soil judging gives students the opportunity to challenge themselves, build camaraderie with their teammates, and get outside for some hands-on learning in the field.

Your gift today-of any size- is a direct investment in Soil Judging students, helping them compete in the National Contest they've worked so hard to qualify for.

To donate, visit https://crowdfund.umn.edu/participants/soil-judging

10/15/2025

Join Dr. Peter Neff on Tuesday 10/21 from 12-1 PM for "To The Core: Discovering Antarctica's Past to Predict Our Coastal Future" hosted by the UMN Alumni Association.

This event will offer a glimpse into how Antarctic ice cores reveal Earth's past and help project the likely future our coastal future worldwide.

This virtual event is free and open to all, but registration is required. You can reserve your spot at z.umn.edu/ToTheCore_1021
Learn more about the event here: https://www.umnalumni.org/s/1867/23/1col.aspx?sid=1867&gid=2&pgid=6156&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=16790

Photo courtesy of Dr. Peter Neff.

10/13/2025

Dr. David Mulla shares his insight about the potential of diversified agriculture for local food systems on the Diverse Corn Belt blog:

https://diversecornbelt.org/seeking-shelter-under-the-foodshed/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNZ7f9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFWM1ZsaXdEdHNadHlEd0hFAR6VqDErqYD_9d9EsaWWdlBYb41UlcymD_HdxOAyA8yIwMNeuOpW_VE4LtxssA_aem_6uafFswx7N_2U1nf2VIccQ

The notion of diversification is nothing new to farming, but taking the initial steps forward is both unfamiliar and risky. The Diverse Corn Belt Modeling Team is building a case for diversification by examining food production as it currently exists and what it could look like moving forward. A key...

10/09/2025

The UMN Soil Judging Team was front page news on the UMN news site today! You can learn what soil judging is, read up on the team's competition successes last spring, and watch a video about what being part of the team means for students at https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/digging-deep-soil-judging-team

Photo courtesy of the Soil Judging Team