Dr. John Galbraith

Professional and University Services

Service to one’s field (e.g., service on committees)

1. Committee Involvement

a. National level 1) Member of Program Committee for 2005 Society of Wetland Scientists Meeting in Charlotte, NC. 2003-2005. 2) Soil Science Society of America - Soil Judging Contest Committee (S425),

representing Region II (Southeast). 1999-2002. 3) Soil Science Society of America - Soil Geomorphology Committee. Since 2002.

b. Regional level 1) Mid-Atlantic Hydric Soils Committee. Since 1999.

2) Research Needs Committee – USDA-NRCS sponsored Northeast Cooperative

Soil Survey Conference. Since 2000.

3) Soil Taxonomy Committee - USDA-NRCS sponsored Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conference. Since 1996.

4) Virginia Tech (CSES) representative to USDA-NRCS sponsored Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conferences. Since 1999.

5) Soil Taxonomy Committee - USDA-NRCS sponsored Southeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conference. 1998-2001.

c. State level

1) Appointed as the Virginia State liaison to the Soil Science Society of America-Smithsonian Soils Exhibition Project to develop a permanent soil monolith display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Since 2002.

2) Appointed by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) to serve with a group of "subject matter experts" (SME) to develop 20 test questions for Virginia’s new 2004 Wetland Delineator Certification Program. 2003.

3) Appointed by the Virginia Governor’s Office as soil scientist representative for The Board for Professional Soil Scientists and Wetland Professionals. 2004-2007. 4) Assistant Virginia Soil Survey Liaison to USDA-NRCS. Since 1999.

2. Speaking

a.: Invited speaker at the USDA-NRCS Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conference (four times). Since 2000.
b.: Invited speaker at the USDA-NRCS MO-13 meeting of the Task Force on Urban Soil Interpretation, Classification, and Mapping in Fairfax County, VA. Donaldson Brown Hotel, Blacksburg, VA. 2003.
c.: Invited Speaker at the Virginia Association of Professional Soil Scientists (VAPSS) meeting (four times). Since 2000.
d.: Invited Speaker at the Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals (VAWP) meeting in Richmond, VA. 2003.
e.: Invited speaker at the Presentation of “GIS in CALS” 30 minute slide show to the Virginia Tech Continuing Education Committee in Roanoke, VA. April 2001.
f.: Invited speaker at the Mid-Atlantic Hydric Soils Committee meeting (seven times). Since 2000.
g.: Invited speaker at the Virginia Tech GIS Symposium in Roanoke, VA. March 2000.
h.: Moderator (in partnership with Amanda Moore) and speaker at the DEVELOP Symposium at Virginia Tech. February 2000.

3. Adult and continued education activity

a.

Invited instructor at the Master Gardener College in Blacksburg, VA. Topic:
Recognizing and Gardening in Wetland Soils. 15 attendees in my class. 2004.

b.

Instructor at three training meetings held at Virginia Tech on “Using Pasture Land Management System (PLMS) decision support system software.” Total of 24 instructional hours devoted to train 75 USDA-NRCS and VCE professionals. I also

spent one day training five students in use of the program. December 2001, January 2002, and February 2004.

c.

Instructor at five Wetlands Training sessions hosted by VA Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) at Yorktown and at Charlottesville, VA. Meetings to train VA Dept. of Transportation (VDOT) and VA Dept. of Env. Quality (DEQ) wetland and environmental professionals in beginning to advanced hydric soil delineation. Total of 40 instructional hours to 150 professionals. 2002 and 2003.

d.

Co-instructor in the “Interpreting Soil Morphology for Estimating Internal Soil Drainage and Subsoil Wetness Conditions” short-course soils training (CEU credit) with W.L. Daniels and J. Baker to 45 consultants and VA Department of Health employees in Bedford, VA. September 2002.

e.

Instructor of “Using GPS and ArcPad™ software” in Virginia Tech Faculty Development Institute (FDI) training for GIS attended by 24 Virginia Tech faculty. May 2001.

f.

Instructor at continuing education training days in “Soil description methods” to members of the Virginia Assn. of Professional Soil Scientists, USDA-NRCS, and to Virginia Tech employees who describe soils as part of their job. September 2000 and May 2001.

4. Distance Education Co-developed an on-line Distance Learning Course called “Wetland Soils” along with

W.L. Daniels and Michael J. Vepraskas (NCSU). Worked with Tim Mack and Mark Raby and Tom Wilkinson to advertise and administer the course, offered online throughout the state. Four distance learners enrolled. Spring 2002 only.

5. Secondary Education

a.

Volunteered to teach a soils lecture at Blacksburg High School. October 2003.

b.

Volunteered time to train a member of the Nelson Co. FFA team for the National FFA Land-Judging Contest. 2003.

c.

Voluntary teaching at 4-H Youth Conservation Camp, and Virginia Agricultural Governor’s School. 2001-2003.

d.

Volunteered time to prepare soil pits for Dr. Jim McKenna to show over 400 visiting 4^th grade students from Montgomery and Giles County. 2001-present.

C. Meetings, panels, workshops, etc., led or organized

Summer Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Hydric Soils Committee near Manassas, Richmond, and Burkeville, VA. Two days of meetings and field tours. About 24 attendees from several states, universities, and federal organizations. 2004.

Summer Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Hydric Soils Committee near Richmond, VA. Two days of meetings and field tours. About 24 attendees from several states, universities, and federal organizations. 2003 and 2004.
VA Association of Professional Soil Scientists Field Trip to Brown Farm to show hydric soils and present GIS maps. About 24 attendees. 2002.
Hosted a training session for Montgomery Co. planning office, Montgomery Co. Health Dept., Town of Blacksburg Planning and Engineering Department, Anderson and Associates Engrs., Inc. of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech faculty and library staff, CSES Department, and Virginia Department of Health, USDA-NRCS on use of Montgomery Co. SSURGO data. January 2001.
Set up a meeting with all interested parties from Virginia Tech and Montgomery Co. to discuss state of art in ArcIMS and web serving of GIS products, hosted by Anderson and Associates Engrs., Inc. of Blacksburg. April 2000.
Hosted a meeting between Montgomery Co. planning office, Montgomery Co. Health Dept., Town of Blacksburg Planning and Engineering Department, Anderson and Associates Engrs., Inc. of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech library digital archives, CSES Department, and Virginia State office staff of NRCS GIS and soil scientists to discuss the upcoming release of SSURGO (digital soil survey) of Montgomery Co. February 2000.

D. Manuscripts and grant proposals reviewed for presses, journals, and funding agencies
E. Department, college, and university service

CALS faculty representative on the Search Committee for the Dean of the College of Natural Resources. 2004.

Solicited funds for 50% of Soil Judging Team expenses from outside donors and funded 50% of Soil Judging Team expenses from non-teaching accounts. Since 2002.
Responsible for submitting paperwork that established Michael J. Vepraskas of NC State University as an adjunct faculty position to the CSES Department. 2002.
Partner in submitting paperwork that established Pam J. Thomas of USDA-NRCS as an adjunct faculty position to the CSES Department. 2001.
Donated $2,400 of honorarium fees to Virginia Tech Foundation. 2001.
CSES Computer Needs Committee. Since 1999.
CSES Curriculum Committee. Since 1999.
Solicited over $3000 in donations to Virginia Tech Foundation to support Soil Judging Team trips and plaques. Since 1999.
F. Contributions to diversity
1. Gender Diversity:

a. Six of my eight graduate students are female.

b. About 50% of the Soil Judging Team members have been female.

c. Selected a female (Patricia Donovan) to be Lab Manager of the CSES GIS Lab. Females are underrepresented in these positions at Virginia Tech.

2. Race and Ethnic Diversity:

a. I advised CSES student Crystal Lamb on selection of her Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program project, which she completed with an advisor from UAP. The McNair Program is designed to help financially disadvantaged, first-generation college students of any race or ethnicity, who are U.S. citizens or students from groups currently underrepresented in higher education (African-American, Hispanic, and Native American). Crystal qualified under both parameters. 2002.
b. I recruited Italian international student Eva Pantaleoni for a doctoral assistantship. 2004.
c. I have actively recruited high school students of all races and ethnic origin during 4-H Camps and Virginia Governor’s School classes. Since 2000.

G. Service to students – involvement in co-curricular activities, advising student organizations, etc.

Served as NASA’s undergraduate DEVELOP program advisor at Virginia Tech. 2000-2002.