Kate Scow is Distinguished Professor of Soil Science and Microbial Ecology in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources at UC Davis since 1989. She is Director of the Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility which hosts a unique long-term experiment exploring relationships between management practices, climate, and indicators of sustainability (economic, agronomic, environmental) of row crop agroecosystems. She was previously Director of the UC Kearney Foundation of Soil Science: “Soil Carbon and California’s Terrestrial Ecosystems”. Scow received her MS and PhD degrees in Soil Science from Cornell University. Scow’s research program investigates relationships between soil microbial diversity and critical soil functions: biogeochemical cycling, soil structure, organic matter and carbon sequestration, as well as connections between soil biology and the rapidly evolving concept of soil health. Other work includes how indigenous microbial communities can help restore polluted ecosystems and design of low-cost treatment systems to promote bioremediation. Scow also works with smallholder farmers in Uganda, using participatory research approaches and local knowledge, on vegetable production and small-scale irrigation approaches.