Physical Land Resources – (M.Sc.)

The overall objective of the programme in Physical Land Resources is that graduates gain expertise to critically reflect on and give answers to questions like:
– What is soil?
– From what did the soil originate and how will it further develop under different conditions?
– Which factors and properties determine the suitability of soil for either agricultural or non-agricultural purposes and how can this be assessed?
– How can soil be improved for specific uses?
– How can degradation and desertification problems be tackled?
– How do we manage the soil and land capital and how do we protect it?
– What is the impact of the factor soil on the dynamics of natural ecosystems and how can this knowledge be used for nature conservation?
– What does soil learn us about environmental problems?
– How can we improve soil water management for sustainable crop production?
– How can we improve the efficient use of our scarce water resources?

A country's physical land resources are a fundamental pillar of support for human life and welfare. Worldwide, population pressures and severe degradation, pollution and desertification problems are threatening these - for several countries relatively scarce - natural resources, and cause competition between agricultural or industrial purposes, urban planning and nature conservation. To guarantee their proper use and management for a nation basic commodity, well trained specialists with a thorough knowledge of the properties and characteristics of physical land resources, and a solid insight in factors and measures that may alter their actual state and value are warranted and call for a high standard scientific and practical education.

Career Perspectives The graduates have the competence to be active in both basic and applied research at universities, research institutes and other government institutions and non-governmental organisations, and to apply their knowledge and skills as required by the overall development policy of their country. In particular:
– graduates have the basics to conduct field work (soil survey, soil profile description, soil classification), use existing cartographic and remote sensing data, and interpret analysed data. This is the basis for regional planning, land evaluation, land degradation risk assessment, soil and water management, etc. This regards all staff from (government) institutions and universities involved in the inventory of natural resources (pedologic and geologic survey and cartography).
– graduates are trained to characterise soil physically, chemically and mineralogically with advanced techniques, to translate this into soil quality and to assess the influence by and on natural and anthropogenic factors. This is important for staff active in laboratories for research in soil science, geomorphology and surface geology, attached to nature reserves and research institutes, and for academics.

Graduates from Belgium and Europe are trained to look at their profession from a situation that is different from their home situation, and are well placed for work in development co-operation projects. The obtained skills are of course also relevant for jobs related to physical land resources within a European context. Implementation of the EU Thematic Strategy on Soil Protection by the member countries demands for well-trained personnel in physical land resources.