معرفی
Scott B. Jones is Professor of Environmental Soil Physics in the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate at Utah State University's College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. His research focuses on soil physics, water movement in porous media, and applications for agriculture, ecology, and space exploration. He maintains an active laboratory developing measurement techniques for soil properties and has been involved in multiple International Space Station experiments.
Educational Background:
- PhD, Soil Science (Soil Physics), Utah State University, 1997
- MS, Agricultural & Irrigation Engineering, Utah State University, 1992
- BS, Civil Engineering, Brigham Young University, 1989
Professor Jones' research emphasizes development of cutting-edge measurement and modeling approaches for understanding porous medium properties and processes. His work spans agricultural, ecological, environmental and space-based applications, with a focus on mass and energy flow in soils. Current interests include machine learning of soil properties from dielectric measurements, microgravity effects on water supply to plant roots, porous media design for reduced gravity applications, soil water and nutrient flow, sensor development, and remote sensing of near-surface soil properties. His expertise bridges fundamental soil physics with practical applications in both terrestrial agriculture and extraterrestrial environments.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on refining soil moisture measurement technologies, particularly electromagnetic and heat pulse methods. His work demonstrates a progression from fundamental soil physics principles toward increasingly sophisticated applications for water management challenges. A notable thread throughout his career has been the adaptation of soil physics principles for space exploration, evident in his numerous NASA-related projects and International Space Station experiments.
Scientific Awards and Honors:
- International Professor of the Year, 2020 (College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences)
- Graduate Research Mentor of the Year, 2019 (College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences)
- Fellow, 2018 (Soil Science Society of America)
- Soil Physics & Hydrology Division Chair, 2016 (Soil Science Society of America)
- Faculty Researcher of the Year, 2012 (College of Agriculture)
- Undergraduate Mentor of the Year, 2008 (College of Agriculture)
- International Space Station Experiment, 2007 (with Russian Institute of Biomedical Problems)
Professor Jones has mentored numerous graduate students through their research in soil physics and related fields. His research has been supported by various grants from NASA, USDA, and other agencies, particularly for his work on plant growth media for space applications and soil moisture measurement technologies. He has served as an Associate Editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal and has been instrumental in organizing professional conferences in his field.
His laboratory work focuses on soil physics instrumentation development, particularly sensors for measuring soil moisture, thermal properties, and other physical characteristics. Professor Jones has been a leader in designing experimental setups for studying water behavior in porous media under variable gravity conditions, including parabolic flight experiments and International Space Station investigations. His work on the ORZS (Optimization of Root Zone Substrates) project represents significant contributions to space agriculture research.
