Securing the future of soil science: Addressing global demographic barriers to engage youth and accelerate early careers
The future of soil science depends on cultivating a diverse, well-equipped generation of scientists and citizens with strong soil connections. The demographic factors and structural barriers that influence youth engagement in soil science remain underexplored despite their importance in creating a m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Geoderma |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125000588 |
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| author | Axel Cerón-González Huiying Ng Jorge Ivelic-Saez Arabela Vega-Aguilar David T. Agbor Sena Pacci Bartłomiej Glina |
| author_facet | Axel Cerón-González Huiying Ng Jorge Ivelic-Saez Arabela Vega-Aguilar David T. Agbor Sena Pacci Bartłomiej Glina |
| author_sort | Axel Cerón-González |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The future of soil science depends on cultivating a diverse, well-equipped generation of scientists and citizens with strong soil connections. The demographic factors and structural barriers that influence youth engagement in soil science remain underexplored despite their importance in creating a more inclusive future of soil science. This discussion paper briefly examines some sociodemographic conditions that shape the landscape of early-career soil scientists, focusing on binary gender, age and regional disparities. The analysis draws on data from a structured questionnaire conducted with Young and Early Career Scientists Working Group (YECS) members of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) from 2022 to 2024. Results indicate increasing participation by young females in Latin America and the Caribbean and near gender equality in the European Union. However, persistent regional inequalities include gender-age gaps in the Near East and Northern Africa and delayed engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa. The limited YECS outreach in regions, such as North America (small sample size), combined with the absence of additional demographic indicators, such as queer identities and ethnic diversity, may lead to biased interpretations and hinder comprehensive understanding. In this regard, YECS has initiated key actions to address these demographic challenges, promoting international partnerships and culturally inclusive soil education. This discussion invites an exploration of sociodemographic implications that affect soil scientists globally. It offers actionable steps to envision a more connected and inclusive soil science community capable of addressing future environmental challenges. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6e45ddc5c0c547279bbd8f284f3de762 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1872-6259 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoderma |
| spelling | doaj-art-6e45ddc5c0c547279bbd8f284f3de7622025-08-20T02:04:38ZengElsevierGeoderma1872-62592025-03-0145511722010.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117220Securing the future of soil science: Addressing global demographic barriers to engage youth and accelerate early careersAxel Cerón-González0Huiying Ng1Jorge Ivelic-Saez2Arabela Vega-Aguilar3David T. Agbor4Sena Pacci5Bartłomiej Glina6Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) Doctoral Fellow – Vrije Universiteit Brussel, AMGC Archaeology, Environmental Changes & Geochemistry Research Group, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Corresponding author at: Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) Doctoral Fellow – Vrije Universiteit Brussel, AMGC Archaeology, Environmental Changes & Geochemistry Research Group, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, 80802 Munich, GermanyDoctoral Fellow – Austral University of Chile, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, 1416 Valdivia, Chile; Institute of Agricultural Research, Regional Center INIA Kampenaike, Punta Arenas, ChileIndependent Researcher, Costa RicaUniversity of Buea, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, 63 Buea, CameroonOndokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Agriculture, 55270 Samsun, TürkiyePoznań University of Life Sciences, Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, 60-637 Poznań, PolandThe future of soil science depends on cultivating a diverse, well-equipped generation of scientists and citizens with strong soil connections. The demographic factors and structural barriers that influence youth engagement in soil science remain underexplored despite their importance in creating a more inclusive future of soil science. This discussion paper briefly examines some sociodemographic conditions that shape the landscape of early-career soil scientists, focusing on binary gender, age and regional disparities. The analysis draws on data from a structured questionnaire conducted with Young and Early Career Scientists Working Group (YECS) members of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) from 2022 to 2024. Results indicate increasing participation by young females in Latin America and the Caribbean and near gender equality in the European Union. However, persistent regional inequalities include gender-age gaps in the Near East and Northern Africa and delayed engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa. The limited YECS outreach in regions, such as North America (small sample size), combined with the absence of additional demographic indicators, such as queer identities and ethnic diversity, may lead to biased interpretations and hinder comprehensive understanding. In this regard, YECS has initiated key actions to address these demographic challenges, promoting international partnerships and culturally inclusive soil education. This discussion invites an exploration of sociodemographic implications that affect soil scientists globally. It offers actionable steps to envision a more connected and inclusive soil science community capable of addressing future environmental challenges.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125000588Youth in soil scienceGender gapSoil educationDiversity and inclusion |
| spellingShingle | Axel Cerón-González Huiying Ng Jorge Ivelic-Saez Arabela Vega-Aguilar David T. Agbor Sena Pacci Bartłomiej Glina Securing the future of soil science: Addressing global demographic barriers to engage youth and accelerate early careers Geoderma Youth in soil science Gender gap Soil education Diversity and inclusion |
| title | Securing the future of soil science: Addressing global demographic barriers to engage youth and accelerate early careers |
| title_full | Securing the future of soil science: Addressing global demographic barriers to engage youth and accelerate early careers |
| title_fullStr | Securing the future of soil science: Addressing global demographic barriers to engage youth and accelerate early careers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Securing the future of soil science: Addressing global demographic barriers to engage youth and accelerate early careers |
| title_short | Securing the future of soil science: Addressing global demographic barriers to engage youth and accelerate early careers |
| title_sort | securing the future of soil science addressing global demographic barriers to engage youth and accelerate early careers |
| topic | Youth in soil science Gender gap Soil education Diversity and inclusion |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125000588 |
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