About the U.S. National Committee

The International Society of Soil Science became a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) in 1993 and in 1998 transformed itself into the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), requiring national organizations to belong to the union. Because the National Academy of Sciences is the national adhering body to ICSU and most of its member unions, representatives of the soil science community asked that the NAS be the adhering body to the IUSS. The U.S. National Committee for Soil Science (USNC/SS) was formed in 1998 to carry out this activity.

The USNC/SS advises the National Academies in all matters pertaining to the IUSS and supports U.S. participation in the international arena. To identify relevant issues for the committee to address, the USNC communicates with professional societies and organizations. By building the channels of communications, the committee seeks the involvement of the U.S. soil science community to prioritize issues of concern and evoke a dialog on each priority area.

Mission Statement
The U.S. National Committee for Soil Science (USNC/SS) provides leadership in the advancement of soil science nationally and internationally. The USNC/SS:
- Interacts with the broader scientific community to identify emerging needs and opportunities for soil science;
- Identifies innovative solutions to solve environmental and societal problems;
- Advocates soil science education to provide a sustainable pool of expertise in the discipline;
- Promotes the public understanding of the critical role soils play in society and the environment; and
- Leads U.S. participation in the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and international collaboration in soil science research.

Committee members
In addition to members appointed by the National Academies for three year terms, the committee includes ex officio members representing the international union and the world congress organizing committee, as well as the Soil Science Society of America. Other professional societies are represented on the committee by liaisons. Societies interested in appointing a liaison to the national committee should contact the staff.