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Introduction

Amber Anderson and Rivka Fidel

Soil profile

Welcome soils students!

Amber standing in a soil pit.
Amber in her preferred habitat. Photo Credit: Lee Burras.
Dr. Fidel points at the whiteboard, wearing lab goggles and a purple blouse
Rivka teaching soil science laboratory [Photo property of The University of Arizona | CC-BY-SA]

Dr. Amber Anderson is an Associate Teaching Professor at Iowa State University in the Agronomy Department as well as coach of ISU’s soil judging team. She is looking forward to sharing her knowledge of soils and interacting with those of you both at Iowa State University and beyond.

Dr. Rivka Fidel is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Arizona. Like Dr. Anderson, she got her PhD in Soil Science at Iowa State University, where she researched biochar (a charcoal-like soil amendment) while developing a passion for teaching and outreach.

To students at UA and ISU, and learners everywhere: wishing you a fun and fruitful learning journey!

We want to acknowledge the contributions, review, and support of Abbey Elder, Dr. Lee Burras, Dr. Cole Dutter, Dr. Bradley Miller, Heidi Ackerman, Dr. Ala Khaleel, Arturo Flores-Godoy, Adam Subora, Elizabeth Severson, Francis Akitwine, Becky Wokibula, Hallie Sandeen, Kai O’Connell, Casey Luke, and many others at Iowa State University Department of Agronomy. Thank you to external reviewer Sam Indorante and other instructors who have sent helpful comments. Cover illustration by Audrey Jenkins.

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Introduction Copyright © 2025 by Amber Anderson and Rivka Fidel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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