The Pacific Regional Society of Soil Science (PRSSS) is a non-governmental, charity organization for professionals, students, and enthusiasts in the field of Soil Science and related land resources management areas. It is a grassroots professional organization with an executive driven by students and supported by a wide range of soil science professionals.
Our Mission
Founded in 1983, the PRSSS was established to:
- Facilitate professional interaction within the discipline of Soil Science.
- Promote discussion and awareness of soil issues in agriculture, forestry, natural resources, and urban sectors.
- Encourage networking and professional development between professionals and students.
Society Act Constitution
- The purpose of the PRSSS is to foster all educational, technical, and scientific aspects of soil science by convening meetings and workshops, by distributing newsletters, establishing committees, and engaging in all necessary activities related to the advancement of Soil Science in the province of British Columbia.
- Click HERE to see the official original Society Act Constitution or HERE to see the updated version.
Events and Outreach
The society organizes seminars, workshops, and field trips; distributes newsletters and encourages all members to share their interests and knowledge. To learn more click on the headings below.
- Focus on a Soil Science theme and discuss topics ranging from urban soils to water management and climate change and also include the Annual General Meeting. Click HERE to learn more.
- Explore British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest's soils in this course. Led by knowledgeable instructors, you will learn about the soil-forming factors that create the soils across our beautiful landscape. Previous trips included Vancouver Island and Williams Lake. Click HERE to learn more.
- This course may be offered as professional development or for credit depending on your institution.
- Spend a few nights away learning more soils, farming, land reclamation, and the natural world around us. Previous trips have included Salt Spring Island, the Okanagan, and Pemberton Valley. Click HERE to learn more.
- Join us for an informal networking opportunity with professors, professionals, students, and farmers in a fun and relaxed setting.
- Spend an hour with us putting your Soil Science knowledge and puzzle-solving skills to the test all for glory and to raise money for a good cause. Previous trivia nights have donated to the Vancouver Food Bank and the United Nations Refugee Agency. Click HERE to learn more.
- Our annual tradition of celebrating World Soil Day on December 5th encourages members to gather and share knowledge about soil. Past events have included a 'Soil Art Day' and a 'Soil Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon'. To learn more, click HERE.
Membership Details
- The Spring Workshop, Summer Soil ID Course, and Fall Field Tour, are members only, and members are the first to get notified of events and newsletters.
- To learn more about becoming a member, click HERE.
PRSSS Statement of Values
We, the Pacific Regional Soil Science Society (PRSSS), believe that Soil Science extends beyond soil pits, forests, fields, and labs. We value diverse viewpoints and perspectives when providing educational opportunities for our members and raising awareness of the importance of soil.
The PRSSS Executive has been reflecting on the inequities faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) in North America and in our local communities. We have begun examining the ways in which we have been implicit in supporting and upholding racist structures. Through this process of reflection, we are actively working to promote anti-racist policies within our organization and sphere of influence.
We acknowledge the historic and continuing role of science and academia in upholding white supremacy and colonialism, and that white privilege and racism against BIPOC exist in Canada. The PRSSS opposes racism in soil science, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and in our broader societies, and stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Furthermore, we firmly believe that everyone should be treated with respect and kindness, and we oppose the negative discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, medical status, and/or socioeconomic status.
We recognize that ongoing learning and communication are crucial for exposing and deconstructing harmful ideologies, and for developing anti-racist and pro-equity plans of action.
If you would like to suggest changes to our statement of values, please fill out our anonymous suggestion form.
Action Items:
Our goal is to foster justice, equity, diversity, and inclusivity (JEDI) within our organization and the field of Soil Science, through the following actions:
- Creating a safe space for participants at our meetings and events.
- Clearly stating our expectations and values, and showing zero tolerance for discriminatory and hateful behaviour at our meetings/events.
- Including questions regarding justice, equity, diversity, and inclusivity (JEDI) in our feedback surveys.
- Providing resources on our website to help ourselves and others in creating a welcoming and inclusive workspace for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, and other marginalized groups, including members of 2SLGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and those with chronic or mental illness.
- Amplifying the voices and work of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, 2SLGBTQ+ (2 Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer, Intersexual, and Asexual), and other marginalized groups
- Actively seeking diverse points of view from speakers, instructors, students, and professionals to participate in our meetings and events.
- Actively sharing the work of students and professionals belonging to these groups on our social media platforms, newsletter, and interviews
- Acknowledging and raising awareness of current and historical discriminatory issues in soil science and other related fields.
- Acknowledging at our events that we are present on traditional, ancestral, and typically unceded Indigenous territory and recognizing the displacement of Indigenous people from their land.
- Providing resources on our website to identify the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples.
- Ensuring that our values and actions are reviewed, improved, and carried over to the next team of executives.
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- Scheduling semi-annual EDI meetings to review policies, evaluate the effectiveness of action items, discuss feedback, and implement new action items when necessary.
- Introducing our values to new executives to ensure the continuation of anti-racist and pro-equity plans of action.