Soil Research Scientist Emeritus / Consultant, Eastern Cereal & Oilseed Research Centre, Ottawa, ON. Born: Jamaica.
Career: Lecturer, Soil Chemistry and Soil Physics, University of Saskatchewan (1964-65); Research Scientist, Agriculture Canada (1965-75). In 1978, he was promoted to Senior Research Scientist; from 1975-90, Dr. Campbell served as Leader of the Soil Management Conservation Program, as well as Head, Soils and Environment Section for Agriculture Canada, Swift Current, Saskatchewan. From 1978-79, he was a Visiting Scientist with CSIRO, in Queensland, Australia. He attained the post of Principal Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (1985); Adjunct Professor, Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan (1978-95); transferred to ECORC in Ottawa in 1997 before retiring in 1998.
Research: Through his research he demonstrated that soil organic matter is a key environmental indicator on health status of prairie soils; his research has received attention nationally and internationally and is used in the development and testing of plant growth models. Carbon dating demonstrated how the C-dating technique could be used to measure the dynamics of soil organic matter turnover; refined concept of potentially mineralizable nitrogen; conducted studies on the influence of different crop rotations on soil quality indices and soil productivity; and, provided research basis to enable fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency to be optimized for production of spring and winter wheat, and forage grasses on the Canadian prairies. Developed model that is used to quantify the sequestration of carbon in soils.
Other: Was active in extension and technology transfer through presentations, articles, radio and TV interviews; spoke to universities and professional societies in Western Canada and the U.S. on tillage management, crop response to fertilizers, snowtrapping, water use efficiency, organic farming, soil degradation and others.
Affiliations: Agriculture Institute of Canada; Canadian Society of Soil Sciences; Canadian Society of Agronomy; American Society of Agronomy.
Honours: Inducted into the Guelph Gryphons Hall of Fame as a member of the 1958 National Champion soccer team (2010); recognized for service to his Alma Mater by Cornwall College Old Boys Association (2008); inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame, Hartford Connecticut (2006); inclusion in Who’s Who in Black Canada 2 (2006); Saskatchewan Centennial Medal (2005); Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002); inducted into Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame (1999); Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1998); appointed Scientist Emeritus, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (1998); Member, Order of Canada, 1998; foundation founded in his honour for University of Saskatchewan students to train in soil sciences at Swift Current (1997); Distinguished Service Award, Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (1997); Fellow, American Society of Agronomy (1993); Fellow, Soil Science Society of America (1993); Outstanding Research Award, Canadian Society of Agronomy (1991); Distinguished Agrologist Award, Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (1990); Fellow, Agriculture Institute of Canada (1988); Fellow, Canadian Society of Soil Science (1988); Agronomy Merit Award, Wheat Pools of the Prairie Provinces & Western Co-op Fertilizers (1986).
Works: Authored or co-authored over 200 scientific publications, 12 chapters, 3 books.
Reviewed in: Scientific publications; profiled in WWIC; Millennium Minds (2000).
Education: PhD, Soil Sciences, University of Saskatchewan (1965); MSA, Soil Sciences (1961); BSA, Agricultural Chemistry, University of Toronto (1960).
Favourite book? Cricket by C.L.R. James. (I am a cricket fanatic.)
Favourite quote? “What do you live for if it is not to make the world less difficult for each other?” – George Eliot
Given the chance, what would you love to do that you haven’t done yet? Play cricket for the West Indies.
Who or what inspires you? President Barrack Obama.
Why do you do what you do? Because I love it!
Contact: Website