Compost University™ Faculty
Jessica Chiartas
UC Davis
Davis, CA | jlchiartas@ucdavis.edu
Jessica Chiartas is a PhD Candidate in Soils and Biogeochemistry researching the impacts of agricultural management on soil carbon and overall metrics of soil health. After five years in corporate sales, most recently in pharmaceutical sales selling antibiotics, she became fascinated by microbes and their role in everything from human health to agriculture and the environment. Recognizing soils as fertile ground for solutions to global challenges, she returned to graduate school to gain a depth of knowledge with the ultimate goal of translating and communicating soil science to a broad audience. She frequently conducts seminars, trainings, and workshops on science communication and is currently supported by a USDA-NRCS grant to develop a website and a series of short videos and infographics that communicate the value and importance of soil.