"Soil Science": A Record of Development of a Discipline. (3562)
Authors:
R. Tate* - Rutgers University
Abstract:
In January 1916, Soil Science, A Monthly Journal Devoted to Problems in Soil Physics, Soil Chemistry and Soil Biology was first published. That this journal was meant to serve an already established and flourishing discipline is shown, at least in part, by the fact that page one was not dedicated to a statement of how the
publication would spur great discovery but rather by a statement on the life of one of the pillars of soil science, Eugene Woldeman Hilgard.This was followed by a statement by the editor-in-chief, Jacob G. Lipman. Much of Lipman’s introduction was devoted to justifying, or maybe “defending”, the importance of specialization in both knowledge and publication, i.e., a defense of the importance of soil
science—an action that continues to current times. As the look back at Hilgard’s life reminds us of the continuity of science discovery, a glance at Jacob Lipman’s words and the contents of volume one reveal the continuity of soil science. The need for a new journal was presented in part with the statement “not infrequently six months or more elapse between the writing of a paper and of its appearance in print.” In volume 1, topics include effects of climate on soil properties, soil enzyme levels and microbial populations, and soil fertility assessments. The list of
contributors reads like a “who’s who” of soil science. The record of growth and maturity of the discipline of soil science as revealed in the publications of Soil Science will be examined further.
Speaker Information: Robert Tate, Rutgers University, Rutgers Univeristy Department of Environmental Sci. 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8551; Phone:
732-932-9810; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 8:00 AM-4:35 PM Presentation Start: 8:30 AM
