Experiencing The Relationality of Soil: Creative Collaborations for a Transformative Soil Science

The numerous connections between soils and socio-ecosystems are often overlooked. In this article, we posit that neglecting affective relations with soil in traditional soil sciences restricts the co-creation of effective soil knowledges to shape sustainable futures, and, therefore, hampers fruitful interactions between science and society. Although the value of relations with soil can be logically explained, we propose that more powerful transformations occur when these are experienced . We reflect on our journeys of developing an event at a soil science conference that invited soil scientists to engage with soils in creative ways. The experiential approaches were designed through collaboration among scientists, artists, and educators. They engaged all five senses and were asked to represent soils through drawing, theatre, and writing. Through these interactive engagements, we aimed to tap into the affective relations of scientists with soils, enabling them to deepen their personal and collective soil experiences. © 2026 Public Access and the authors and artists. Published by Intellect Ltd