William Miller

Post-tenure ReviewAugust 9, 2010

Background:BS, MS: Environmental soil science, PurduePhD: Soil chemistry, Virginia Tech

Appointment:Since 1981½ Instruction, ½ ResearchSoil conservation

Soil chemistry …. Pedology

Instruction:

CRSS/FANR 3060: Soils and Hydrology80-100 students/semester, Fall & SpringCo-teach with WSFNR facultyService course: Forestry, Hort, other ag majorsLab sections: 5/semester, 20 students

TA’s: supervise labs (2 CRSS, 2 WSFNR)Field trips, quantitative measurements

CRSS 4580/6580-L: Soil Erosion & ConservationEvery other year; 10-12 studentsLab will be deleted (distance to/from Griffin)Not required

CRSS 4660/6660-L: Environ. Chemical AnalysisEvery year; 8-12 students; lab-intensiveThompson will take over in 2011Required for Environ. Chem; grad student interest

FANR(CRSS) 4700: Hydrology, Soils and Geology of Georgia (Maymester; alternate years)

Temporary Courses:

CRSS 4670/6670: Environ. Soil Chemistry2006-’08; Thompson taken over

CRSS 8000: Soil Physical Chemistrysince 90’s2009: Thompson and Huang

New Courses (‘07, from L. West)

CRSS/GEOL 4540/6540-L: PedologyRequired; 15-25 students/yearField-intensive course (2 all day field trips)

CRSS 3540: Soil Morphology (soil judging) National Collegiate Soil Judging competitionSE Regional in fall; Nationals in springCo-teach with Larry Morris (WSFNR)

Southeast Regional:Virginia Tech: October 2008

10 undergradsdid not place…

Southeastern Regional:Crossville, TN (UT/Knoxville): Oct. 2009

7 undergrads, 4 grad students2 students in top 10 (out of 75)team placed 5th (out of 12)

National Contest:

Lubbock, TX , Texas Tech Univ.

March 2010

4 Undergrads 5th highest individual

Placed 8th (out of 21) team

Issues with Soil Judging:-- expensive: private fund-raising; limited state/univ support-- large time commitment (students and faculty)-- small class: large investment per student

Benefits:-- intensive learning opportunity (students, faculty)-- chance for students to travel-- increases visibility of University in region, nation

UGA hosts the Regional competition this fall (October)

Research

Soil erosion/runoff processes in SE soilsLand application of wastes/soil contaminants

-- byproduct gypsum, fly ash (coal-fired utilities)-- pulp mill waste-- waste wallboard-- municipal sewage sludge (biosolids)

beneficial re-use vs. environmental hazards

Law suit: filed 2006, District Federal courtDairy farmers and ex-EPA employee

vs.Miller et al.

EPA grant to study sewage on grass, Burke Co. (2000)Diary cow deaths, 2 farms, received Augusta sludge

(On-going suits vs. city, EPD, EPA since mid-90’s)Claim: falsified grant application, data in report, JEQ

article (aided EPA in defending other suits)After 4 years, no ruling yet…