British Society of Soil Science - History and Aims

The BSSS (or 'BS cubed' as it is fondly known) was formed in 1947 by a number of eminent British soil scientists, including Profs Comber, Robinson, Russell and Zeuner, and Dr Crowther, Stewart and Jacks. The Society was set up to take over and extend some of the activities of the British Empire Section of the International Society of Soil Science.

The Aims of the Society stated at that time were encapsulated in the Rules as agreed in 1947:

	•	The object of the British Society of Soil Science shall be to advance the study of the soil.
	•	Membership of the Society shall be open to all those interested in the study and uses of soil.
	•	The interests of the Society shall embrace the study of the soil in its widest aspects, and shall include not only soil science and its applications to agriculture, horticulture and forestry, but also other branches of science and technology that impinge upon problems connected with soil.
	•	The Society shall issue a publication, annually to begin with, containing original research papers, reviews and accounts of the activitities of the Society

Subscription to the Society was £1 1s 0d per annum in those days! From these early beginnings, with less than 100 members, the BSSS has now grown to a Society of nearly 1000 members, both in the UK and further afield. The Society's two scientific journals, European Journal of Soil Science and Soil Use & Management are widely recognised as being amongst the best in the world.