Recognizing the power of art to make abstract biological and geochemical processes visible and accessible, the Urban Soils Institute added an Art Extension Service in 2018. The AES brings together artists, scientists, and educators to create collaborative public art projects through residencies, symposia, and exhibitions in the United States and abroad.

The goals of the Art Extension Service:

• Provide opportunities for artists and soil scientists to explore common interests and passions

• Engender stewardship of our soil and ecology

• Create an interactive community of scientists, artists, and citizens

• Promote soils education through fun, accessible, complex, poetic and unexpected means