Programme

IMSOGLO graduates have the knowledge and skills to characterize soils and understand soil evolution in an ecosystem context under global change because they understand the underlying processes and interactions.

IMSOGLO graduates will:

1. Possess a broad knowledge at an advanced level in basic disciplines (soil physics, soil biogeochemistry, land information systems, meteorology and climatology);
2. Understand the evolution of soil (agro-/forest/natural) ecosystems under natural conditions and human-impact, as well as its relation to global change;
3. Have the ability to characterise soil physically, biologically and chemically, using advanced techniques to understand soil processes, to translate this to soil quality and to assess the influences by and on natural and anthropogenic factors;
4. Possess the basic methods to conduct field work (soil survey, soil profile description, soil sampling), interpret analytical data, classify the soil, and manage and interpret existing geospatial (soil) data;
5. Have the ability to plan and execute target orientated experiments or simulations independently and critically evaluate the collected data;
6. Possess a holistic understanding of interactions and processes in the agro-ecosystem and natural ecosystems, using statistical tools and advanced (geospatial) information- and modelling techniques;
7. Have the ability to act from a researchers’ perspective: creativity, accuracy, critical reflection, curiosity, justification of choices based on scientific criteria;
8. Have the ability for independent integration and extension of acquired knowledge to update concepts and innovate implementation possibilities, knowing the limits of own competences;
9. Have the ability to participate in and lead interdisciplinary groups that contribute the development of sustainable environmental solutions at local, regional and global scale;
10. Possess qualifications for employment in private and public-sector companies and organisations where high level expertise in soil management is required;
11. Have the ability to communicate, orally and written, in words and in graphs, on the own discipline to experts and the general public.

IMSOGLO graduates who followed the specialization Soil Biogeochemistry will additionally be able to:

1. Sample, measure and describe basic concepts of biogeochemistry, in particular element cycles and fluxes in (agro-) ecosystems;
2. Recognise the impact of soil properties and processes on plant nutrition and health;
3. Evaluate the role of trees in land use systems, with particular emphasis on agroforestry;
4. Develop appropriate field designs and experimental procedures to address testable hypotheses;
5. Design, apply and evaluate experiments using both stable and radioactive isotopes;
6. Understand the role of soil microorganisms for soil properties and plant nutrition in relation to their activities in the environment.

IMSOGLO graduates who followed the specialization Physical Land Resources will additionally be able to:

1. Describe and model the soil water cycle and its relation to soil degradation and soil management;
2. Design soil water management strategies under a changing climate;
3. Recognise soil threats and to identify promising ecosystem services for a field situation;
4. Measure and model erosion risk, soil compaction and the other soil threats identified by the EU;
5. Characterise the relation between the C-cycle and the climate at different scales;
6. Apply land evaluation techniques to identify and choose between promising land management alternatives in a regional context.