Soil and Citizen Science – engaging citizens, landowners, and scientists (Brandenburg, Germany)

What are soils, and how do they influence our lives? The project “Boden entdecken” (German: discovering soil) aims to further this discussion. Boden entdecken is based in South-Eastern Brandenburg (circa 130 km South of the Berlin in Upper Lusatia, Germany), where environment and society are characterised by centuries of lignite mining and the current transformation towards an end of open cast mining by 2038.

Two approaches are pursued to support a public debate on the role of soils in our society, their properties, and potentials for different land uses.

First, citizens discovered real soils themselves. Soils are always near, but little is actually know about them. From May to September 2024, teams of citizens were invited to discover the soils of their surrounding themselves. Eighteen team, including over 60 participants of various backgrounds, actively looked under the surface. 38 mineral soil profiles of 55 cm depth were dug and investigated by them. An app and a little kit developed in the project were used, and soil properties were analysed in the field. The field analysis is a simplified approach based on the Müncheberg soil quality rating (Müller et al. 2007). For each soil profile an assessment, a score, is directly reported after the field investigation. All results can be accessed by the participants and landowners on the website of the project. Additionally, all results were scientifically evaluated. To validate the results, twelve of the soil profiles were additionally analysed and sampled by soil scientists.

Secondly, the local media and networks are used to raise interest and to bring together stakeholders. The main communication and outreach of the project occurs via social media (Instagram and Facebook). However, in-person events, meetings and interviews play a crucial role in engagement of landowners and citizens with soil science. They proved essential in this project and provided a platform for exchange and feedback.

Here we like to present sone lessons learnt in the project: Which project methods proved useful in engaging landowners and citizens? What motivated them to participate in “discover their soils”?

https://boden-entdecken.de

Müller, L.; U. Schindler; A. Behrendt; F. Eulenstein and R. Dannowski. The Muencheberg soil quality rating (SQR) – Field manual for detecting and assessing properties and limitations of soils for cropping and grazing. (2007): 1-103.