Course summary

Soil systems are a vital, non-renewable resource. They provide multiple ecosystem services and are an essential component of food production and food security globally. They are crucial in supporting delivery of services such as flood management, resilience to environmental change, and are a source of goods for infrastructure and development together with supporting a vast array of biodiversity both above and below ground. There is global recognition of the significant and increasing pressure that soils are under, requirement for urgent action needed for sustainable soil and land management has gained increasing international attention in recent years due to both the global climate and biodiversity crisis. Our Soils and Sustainability MSc has been developed in collaboration with industry and is an interdisciplinary programme, providing you with the essential knowledge and advanced skills to make informed decisions on sustainable land practice and soil management to help tackle some of the pressures on soils and contribute to enhancing resilience in future. The programme encompasses the fundamentals of soil science and soil's role in wider environmental systems. In addition, you gain skills and experience in monitoring techniques to evaluate soils' role and effective management in various environmental landscapes and socioeconomic contexts. What will I learn? The MSc will prepare you for a range of careers in land-based management and environmental protection. You will explore:

• Soil formation, functions and ecosystem services

• Role of soils in mitigating climate change

• Soil health and causes of degradation

• Management strategies to promote and conserve soil health and sustainable soil systems

• Practical skills in soil analysis and surveying

• food security

• climate change

• biodiversity

• human health and well-being

• You can visit the SRUC website for more information.