William shares why soil science sparks his interest and his research

What sparked your interest in soil science?

My first garden on our farm in Ontario, when I was in high school. I was amazed how soil starts out in the spring as cold and wet and apparently lifeless, but is soon covered by a myriad of plants (and most were not planted by me). I had so many vegetables that I had to buy a pickup truck to get my harvest to Toronto where we lived. I was fascinated how the soil could provide more or less everything needed by those plants.

Why is your research important?

If we understand the mechanism by which soil is able to filter water so effectively, we can apply this knowledge to the treatment of various types of wastewater including, for example, the tailings ponds in northern Alberta. If we understand the contribution of soil-derived dust particles to trace metals in the air, we will be in a better position to understand human impacts on heavy metals in the environment.

Is there an experiment you would like to do but haven't had the chance yet? If so, what is it?

Peat bogs are the most copper-deficient soils on the planet, yet some of the plants growing there (e.g. cranberries, Labrador tea), are full of copper. How do they manage this?