Overview

JANICE THIES is an Associate Professor of Soil Biology in Crop and Soil Sciences, Director of Graduate Studies for the Field of Soil and Crop Sciences, and International Professor of Soil Ecology. She is a 2006 American Society for Microbiology Latin America International Professor and has led five international workshops on Soil Molecular Ecology. Dr. Thies is an team member of the Cornell Institute for Social Sciences theme project entitled ?Contentious Knowledge: Science, Social Science and Social Movements', the Cornell Cooperative Extension Soil Health Program Work Team, the S-1022 Technical Regional Project Committee and Leader of the CIIFAD International Soil Health Program at Cornell University. She has served as an expert consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Iran, the USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program, and has served twice on Scientific Advisory Panels for the US-EPA. She is a past member of the Editorial Board of ?Applied and Environmental Microbiology' and the CALS Faculty Senate, where she served on the Executive Committee and as both Secretary and acting Chair. Her research program in soil ecology focuses on developing, testing and implementing methods to assess soil biological quality, remediate degraded soils, and improve soil management practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of agricultural ecosystems.

Research Focus

Develop and refine new molecular methods to characterize soil biodiversity, and identify and measure the activity of microbes in soil responsible for critical ecosystem processes / Determine how soil and crop management practices affect the diversity and functioning of soil microbial populations / Advance work on soil quality/health locally and internationally by developing and promoting: (i) use of robust indicators of soil sustainability and (ii) biological approaches to controlling pests and increasing soil fertility / Use unusual habitats as model systems for discovering and understanding soil biochemistries that can be used to develop alternative soil management practices that maintain and enhance the soil resource base / Work collaboratively with colleagues to inform public regulatory policies so that the twin goals of environmental protection and sustainable crop production can be achieved.

Outreach and Extension Focus

I do not have an extension appointment, but believe I have a responsiblity under the Land Grant Mission to serve the stakeholders of NYS. As such, I take every opportunity to present at workshops, conferences and extension education venues. I work with farmers and CCE personnel and contribute to the Program Work Team: Soil Health in Vegetable Production Systems.

Instruction Focus

Fully engage students in the teaching/learning process / Use ?hands-on' experiences at both the graduate and undergraduate levels / Use more guidance in undergraduate instruction, yet give students a fair share of responsibility for their learning / Respond to student feedback in order to improve my teaching and student learning / Use electronic resources to enhance the teaching and learning experience / Develop distance education courses that will also enhance the learning experience for local students / Share the wealth by designing and conducting teaching and learning experiences for colleagues / Take opportunities often to speak to grower groups, other teachers, stakeholders, policy makers, extension personnel about soil ecology / Continue to use by own prior teaching and learning experiences to improve my skills / Continue developing my teaching and learning skills by attending workshops and reading widely on teaching and learning / Serve on department and college committees to help improve the teaching and learning environment in the department and college.

Additional Links

• Soil Microbiology Internet Course
• Thies Laboratory
• Link to CALS Research portal
• Link to CALS Impact statements

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