“Dig It! The Secrets of Soil,” explores the world beneath your feet, opens May 16
For immediate release ‐ April 28, 2015
Contact: Emelia Cowans, 919.707.9837. Images available upon request
RALEIGH — How much do you know about the world beneath your feet? The soil we walk on is teeming with life — a quarter of all species on Earth, in fact. And the life and processes in soils are responsible for the vast majority of our food, fibers, construction material, clean water, medicine, and climate regulation. In other words, without soil you would be hungry, naked and homeless. “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil,” a new traveling exhibition that explores the profound ways soil supports our lives, opens at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on May 16. Generous support from BASF, the Soil Science Society of America, and other NC donors enables free entry to this exhibition.
The message about the importance of soil has never been more seasonable than it is today. The United Nations General Assembly has established 2015 as the International Year of Soils to raise awareness about our dependence on soil. “With a growing world population, new research and innovative practices are vital to managing this soil for increased food production,” said Dr. Emlyn Koster, director of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. “Soil has also been making headlines lately as the source of a novel antibiotic whose target pathogens have yet to develop resistance to the drug. The benefits of soil are vast and still somewhat uncharted.”
Using videos, hands-on models, interactive displays and real soil samples, the exhibition presents an eye-opening and engaging story about soil, the “skin of the earth.” Developed by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, the majority of the exhibition explores the extensive role of soil in agriculture, architecture and construction, art and rituals, medicine, water filtration, and much more. The exhibition was curated by some of the country’s leading soil scientists also delves into technical topics such as soil microbiology and its role in greenhouse gas emissions. Clay-rich soils form the underpinning of the state’s status as the handmade pottery capital of the US. The exhibition also takes a look at both the art and science of pottery in North Carolina.
“It is a perfect fit for Dig It! to appear in our state. Not only were several North Carolina soil scientists instrumental in developing the exhibition, but soil is also the foundation of North Carolina’s number one industry: agriculture. In fact, it’s the rich soil biodiversity across the state that allows a variety of crops to flourish and make North Carolina number one in sweet potatoes, number two in Christmas trees, and highly ranked in many other types of produce,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
The Dig It! exhibition runs through August 16.