Featured Employee - Mark Clark

Location: Palmer, Alaska
Date: March, 2008

Twenty-five years ago Mark Clark, Regional Soil Scientist for Alaska NRCS, applied for a summer detail working on a soil survey crew in Alaska. The detail turned into  a full-time position, and the full-time position turned into a challenging career filled with opportunities that continue to inspire excitement.

As Regional Soil Scientist, Mark provides technical assistance to the soil survey program in Alaska including the design and installation of research to support projects.

 “I never meant to stay this long,” said Mark of his 24 years in Alaska. “But every project I’ve had the chance to work on has been better than the one before.”

Today Mark is one of the agency’s most informed soil scientists on the topic of climate change and its impact on permafrost soils. He is currently developing a soil climate monitoring program that upgrades 25 of NRCS' snow and climate SNOTEL sites to collect soil moisture and temperature data. He is also installing soil temperature and moisture monitoring equipment throughout the state.  

“We still know so little about the interaction between soils and climate in Alaska,” Mark said.  “I hope this monitoring program will help us fill in some of the information void.” 

Mark has authored five large soil surveys that map a combined 10 million acres. And he had the opportunity to travel and network with scientists from all over the world as part of the team that developed two new soil orders: Gelisols and Andisols. He also spearheaded research of wetland soils and hydrology through a partnership between NRCS and the University of Alaska.

Mark believes that the soil survey program in Alaska is on the upswing and starting to accelerate. “Alaska is a great place for a soil scientist to work because the science is new here with many of the soils yet to be described or studied,” he said. “Opportunities are growing because the number of cooperators interested in mapping their lands is increasing.” 

For those considering soil science as a field, Mark does have a few words of advice. “A strong fundamental science background provides the best foundation for field work. The latest technologies, while certainly helpful, will never replace your ability to apply your scientific knowledge to real-world settings and situations.”

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