A soil scientist at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) has won a prestigious international award.
Dr David Robinson has been honoured by the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) for his outstanding contribution through his research in the discipline.
He is internationally recognised as an authority on the measurement of soil moisture and soil physical processes that affect the delivery of ecosystem services in a changing environment.
Dr Robinson, who has been a soil scientist for more than 20 years, leads the Catchment to Coast group at CEH and is based at its site in Bangor. He is also a NERC Knowledge Exchange fellow for soils.
During his career, he has held positions in the UK, USA, Trinidad & Tobago and Israel. He holds an adjunct faculty position of Professor of Soil Physics at Utah State University and is active both in the Soil Science Society of America and the British Society of Soil Science.
He has authored 90 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to a number of book chapters and regularly receives invitations to present his research at international conferences.
Dr Robinson will be presented with the Don and Betty Kirkham Soil Physics Award for 2018 at the SSSA’s annual meeting in San Diego in January. The annual accolade recognises a mid-career soil scientist who has made outstanding contributions in this discipline.
Dr Robinson said: “The Soil Science Society of America is a prestigious and important organisation that promotes better understanding of soils in relation to a variety of topics, including crop production, environmental quality, land use, ecosystems and waste management, and I am delighted to be the 21st recipient of its Don and Betty Kirkham Soil Physics Award.”
Explaining his passion for his subject, Dr Robinson added: “I like the natural environment and soils are a good integrator between the atmosphere, water, rocks, and vegetation in the biosphere. Soil is where everything meets and it all comes together.”
As well as an engraved bronze medal, Dr Robinson will receive $2,000 but he has opted to contribute this to the Kirkham Fund. The fund helps subsidise the travel costs of young scientists attending the Kirkham conference held globally every four years, which provides a networking opportunity for those in the discipline.
