2006 Dokuchaev Basic Soil Science Award – Victor Targulian, Institute of Geography, Moscow
In memory of Russian geographer Vasily Vasili'evich Dokuchaev (1846-1903), the Dokuchaev Basic Soil Science Award honors major accomplishments resulting from basic soil science research. The award consists of an engraved medal and $1,000 honorarium. The 2006 honoree is Victor Targulian of the Institute of Geography, Moscow, Russia. Dr. Targulian has spent his 50-year scientific career developing a pedology model as a basic Earth and biosphere science.
2006 Liebig Applied Soil Science Award – Rattan Lal, The Ohio State University
In memory of German scientist Justus von Liebig (1803-1873)--known as the "father of the fertilizer industry"--the award recognizes outstanding contributions in applied soil science research, resulting in new discoveries, techniques, inventions, or materials. The Liebig Applied Soil Science Award consists of an engraved medal and $1,000 honorarium and is presented in 2006 to Rattan Lal of The Ohio State University. Dr. Lal is professor of soil physics in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, and director of the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center at The Ohio State University. Since joining OSU in 1987, he has worked on soils and climate change, soil degradation, and global food security.
2006 Kubiëna Medal – Herman Mücher, University of Amsterdam
In memory of German soil scientist Walter L. Kubiëna (1897-1970), the Kubiëna Medal is awarded for outstanding and sustained contribution in the discipline of soil micromorphology. The award consists of an engraved medal and $1,000 honorarium and is presented in 2006 to Herman Mücher, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dr. Mücher was unanimously awarded this medal for his outstanding research combining meticulous observations in the field, in the laboratory, and in thin sections. During his early career, he founded the micromorphological laboratory at the University of Amsterdam, greatly improving preparation techniques. Recently, he has directed his research towards palaeosols, a theme that Kubiëna also probed. During his career at the University of Amsterdam, Mücher trained many graduate and postgraduate students, and was involved in all the Erasmus intensive courses on micromorphology until his retirement.
2006 Kubiëna Medal Posthumous Award – A. Jongerius, Dutch Soil Survey Institute
In memory of German soil scientist Walter L. Kubiëna (1897-1970), the Kubiëna Medal is presented in 2006 posthumously to A. Jongerius, former Head of the Department of Micropedology and Mineralogy of the Dutch Soil Survey Institute (Stiboka) in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The award honors his memory and is an expression of appreciation for his outstanding and pioneering contribution to soil micromorphology. Dr. Jongerius passed away in mid-life, shortly after the establishment of the Kubiëna Medal. The awards committee noted that had Dr. Jongerius been nominated, he would have proved an outstanding candidate.
Honorary Membership to the International Union of Soil Sciences
This recognition is for soil scientists of distinction and international reputation who have given service to the international Soil Service Society and/or International Union of Soil Services.
The World Congress of Soil Science is held from July 9-15 in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and features presentations by soil scientists from around the world on such topics as climate change, soils and health, urban planning, crop production, hazardous waste, and more. The World Congress of Soil Science is a unique international event held in a different city every four years (last held in the U.S. in 1960). For more information, go to: www.18wcss.org .