William Miller
Post-tenure Review
August 9, 2010
Background:
BS, MS: Environmental soil science, Purdue
PhD: Soil chemistry, Virginia Tech
Appointment:
Since 1981
½ Instruction, ½ Research
Soil conservation
Soil chemistry …. Pedology
Instruction:
CRSS/FANR 3060: Soils and Hydrology
80-100 students/semester, Fall & Spring
Co-teach with WSFNR faculty
Service course: Forestry, Hort, other ag majors
Lab sections: 5/semester, 20 students
TA’s: supervise labs (2 CRSS, 2 WSFNR)
Field trips, quantitative measurements
CRSS 4580/6580-L: Soil Erosion & Conservation
Every other year; 10-12 students
Lab will be deleted (distance to/from Griffin)
Not required
CRSS 4660/6660-L: Environ. Chemical Analysis
Every year; 8-12 students; lab-intensive
Thompson will take over in 2011
Required 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 Chemistry
2006-’08; Thompson taken over
CRSS 8000: Soil Physical Chemistry
since 90’s
2009: Thompson and Huang
New Courses (‘07, from L. West)
CRSS/GEOL 4540/6540-L: Pedology
Required; 15-25 students/year
Field-intensive course (2 all day field trips)
CRSS 3540: Soil Morphology (soil judging)
National Collegiate Soil Judging competition
SE Regional in fall; Nationals in spring
Co-teach with Larry Morris (WSFNR)
Southeast Regional:
Virginia Tech: October 2008
10 undergrads
did not place…
Southeastern Regional:
Crossville, TN (UT/Knoxville): Oct. 2009
7 undergrads, 4 grad students
2 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 soils
Land 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 court
Dairy 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…