About ISCN

Soil carbon is a chemical fingerprint for many inter-related processes governed by biogeochemical and landscape-scale phenomena. These inter-related soil processes define the capacity for soil to provide food, fiber, nutrients, water and a balance among land, atmosphere, and terrestrial waters. Soil carbon studied in proper context is indicative of key indicators of soil health, resilience, and security because of its chemical relationship to soil organic matter, water, and nutrients. Soil carbon is also directly attributable to exchanges of carbon dioxide and trace gases between land-water, and land- air systems and therefore is a key component in the regulation of our global climate system.

The International Soil Carbon Network (ISCN) is a science-based network that facilitates data sharing, assembles databases, identifies gaps in data coverage, and enables spatially explicit assessments of soil carbon in context of landscape, climate, land use, and biotic variables. The network provides (1) scientific and logistical infrastructure for sharing knowledge, information, and data, (2) shared data and recognition, and (3) opportunities for synergistic interactions, (4) products beneficial to stakeholders and scientists, (5) a framework for common scientific protocols and collaborative decision support tools

The ISCN relies on support from multinational, private, and governmental entities to support and maintain collaborative efforts of scientists and stakeholders. This support may include facilities for meetings, travel grants, IT expertise, and the many hours of service that form the basis for collaborative science.

Scientific Steering Group

The purpose of the Scientific Steering Group is to define the major scientific questions and goals of the Network, coordinate the sharing of scientific and logistical infrastructure, and decide upon the adoption of common scientific protocols.

Jennifer Harden – SSG Chair
Soil Scientist emeritus
US Geological Survey
Ben Bond-Lamberty– SSG Co-Chair
Research Scientist
Joint Global Change Research Institute
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Associate Professor
Department of Physical Geography
Stockholm University
Program Head and Senior Researcher
ISRIC-World Soil Information (WDC-Soils)
Senior Researcher
Soil Biogeochemistry and Carbon Management
National Autonomous University of Mexico
Terrestrial Ecologist
Biosciences Division
Argonne National Laboratory
Research Soil Scientist
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
US Environmental Protection Agency
Professor and Chair
Soil Science
Technical University of Munich
Research Soil Scientist
Northern Research Station
USDA Forest Service
Assistant Professor
School of the Environment
Washington State University
Research Scientist
Water Resources Division
US Geological Survey
Associate Professor
Soil Fertility Management and Soil
Biogeochemistry
Cornell University
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography
Texas A&M University
Team Leader
Land Resource Management and Soil Action
European Union- Joint Research Center
Associate Research Scientist
University of Michigan
Research Scientist
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Colorado State University
National Program Leader
Bioclimatology
USDA Forest Service
Professor
Soils and Forest Ecology
Duke University
Professor and ChairPlant and Soil Science
University of Aberdeen
Science Coordinator, Climate Change
Science and Programs Branch
Canadian Forest Service
Chris Swanston – SSG Past Chair
Research Ecologist
Northern Research Station
USDA Forest Service
Program Lead
Terrestrial Ecosystems Research
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory