Mission Statement

Vision: Soil and Water as two natural resources of environment, act as the life support systems of our planet. These are now considered as a fundamental subject with applications in agriculture, forestry and engineering. These sciences comprise breadth and depth of expertise in research, teaching and extension of environmental science, defined here as basic to applied science of the Earth’s terrestrial surface – including regions affected by human activity. It focuses on that portion of the Earth’s near surface termed the “critical zone” that extends from the lower atmospheric boundary to the lower depth of circulating groundwater, and which includes vegetation and/or urban infrastructure, soil, sediment, vadose and saturated zones. 

Our vision includes research, teaching and extension programs that address societal needs pertaining to problems of agricultural production, water quality, natural resource management, and environmental remediation, in a rapidly changing world. Overall vision is achieving excellence in teaching, research, and community service to ensure quality of soil, water and environment and its sustainable use to support food security, human health and habitation.

Mission: The MISSION of SWED is to develop knowledge of basic Soil and Water Science and the interrelationships with plant nutrition and environmental quality; to apply this knowledge to advance environmentally sound soil, plant, and water management technologies; to improve the quality of life by providing research-based information and educational opportunities on the appropriate use and management of land resources; to prepare undergraduate students with an understanding of and ability to apply fundamental principles of soil science, agronomy, environment, and natural resource management; and to prepare graduate students to conduct basic and applied research that will be used to solve problems for the advancement of science.

It is our central mission to provide: i) training and education for future generations of scientists, land and water resource managers, engineers, agricultural producers, and policy makers to address a wide range of issues facing environmental systems and their intersection with human health and well-being.