Åsgeir R. Almås

Åsgeir R. Almås is a Professor and Head of the Section for Soil and Water Sciences at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA). He has been with NMBU since 1999, holding roles including Postdoctoral Researcher, Research Scientist, and Research Professor since 2014. His work spans both research and teaching, with leadership in multiple national and international research projects.

Research Interests: His research focuses on two interconnected domains: the biogeochemistry of soil contaminants and plant nutrition. He investigates metal speciation in soils, sediments, and freshwater, and its impact on microbial and plant systems, using advanced techniques such as WHAM/Model VI, DGT/DIFS, and PICT with ³H-Leucine incorporation. He also explores the environmental fate of emerging contaminants like PFAS. In agronomy, he studies trace element dynamics (e.g., As, Cd, Fe, Zn, P) in soil-plant systems, salinity impacts on cultivated soils, and the use of seaweed in sustainable soil management across Norway, Europe, Asia, and East Africa.

Research Projects: He leads or contributes to several significant projects including Clim Smart, SafeKelp (controlling iodine and arsenic in food/feed chains), Green Move (soil restoration in infrastructure), SoiSalAdapt (pre-adapting soil biology to salinity), SeaSoil (European seaweed ecosystem services), earthresQue (rescue of earth materials in circular economy), and Solo (soils for Europe). These reflect a strong emphasis on sustainability, climate adaptation, and circular resource use.

Teaching: He teaches key courses such as SOIL 213 (Chemical and Physical Soil Analysis), JORD 310 (Soil Pollution and Sustainability), and MILJØ 100 (Introduction to Environment and Natural Resources, in Norwegian). He also contributes to JORD330 (Soil Health and Sustainable Soil Management).

Advising and Grants: He actively supervises MSc and PhD students, particularly in areas related to soil contaminants and plant nutrition. His leadership in multiple externally funded research projects indicates sustained success in competitive grant acquisition and project management. His work bridges fundamental biogeochemical science with applied environmental and agricultural solutions.

Labs and Teams: As Head of the Section for Soil and Water Sciences, he leads a research team focused on soil chemistry, contaminant dynamics, and sustainable land use. The section is involved in interdisciplinary collaborations across NMBU and international partners, contributing to both national policy and global sustainability goals.