Introduction to Soils (60 PDH Mins.)

Recorded June 23, 2020 Level: Basic/General The Introduction to Soils for the Beginner webinar is intended to prepare the attendee to begin building their knowledge base. Subsequent, more advanced soils topics are expected. Overview: Soils are ubiquitous on the Earth. Soil is the source of the vast majority of our food and fiber, the base upon which our buildings and other structures rest, the filter that purifies our drinking water and is literally the foundation upon which civilization exists. Traditionally most geologists were not taught about soils. Even now a soils class, if it is offered, is often an upper level elective. Yet many geologists find themselves spending more time characterizing and describing soils than they do lithic materials. Soils, bedrock and aquifers are inextricably inter-connected and an understanding of this relationship is key to being an effective geologist. About our instructor: Russell Losco, P.G., C.P.S.S. (Lanchester Soil Consultants) has over 33 years’ experience in soil science. He received a B.A. in anthropology/archaeology from Indiana Univ. of PA and an M.A. in Geoscience from West Chester Univ. He is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist, a Professional Geologist and an adjunct professor at Delaware County Community College and West Chester Univ. and is the co-founder of Lanchester Soil Consultants, Inc. He served for nine years on the Board of Directors of the PA Assoc. of Professional Soil Scientists (PAPSS) and is the lead author of the PAPSS Manual for Soil Investigation in Pennsylvania and a number of other scientific publications. He served on the PCPG Board of Directors for six years. For six years he worked in cooperation with the US EPA on targeted urban soil surveys in six states and one U.S. territory, work that won him the 2015 Scientific and Technological Achievement Award by the USEPA. He is co-author of the book, “Soils and Human Health” and the lead author on the upcoming book, “The Traveler’s Guide to the Geology of Costa Rica."