The ground we walk on can be very revealing, as the Soil Science Collection demonstrates. The Collection consists of a series of soil monoliths - blocks of soil as they appear in nature - from across Alberta, and elsewhere in Canada and the world. The samples reveal how soils develop in diverse landscapes, and are particularly useful for researchers, instructors, and students focused on renewable resources. Ongoing research in soil ecology, landscape dynamics, carbon and nitrogen cycling, and soil chemical properties illustrates the environmental value of the Collection. A selection of soil monoliths, the "Soils of Canada," is displayed in the second floor, east wing of the Earth Sciences Building.