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Digging deeper into the hidden world beneath our feet

21 August 2025 | Story Martinette Brits | Photo Stephen Collett

Prof Johan van Tol invited his audience on a journey through the hidden world beneath our feet during his inaugural lecture, Every Soil Has a Story to Tell, on Monday 18 August 2025. Using humour, personal anecdotes, and decades of research experience, he highlighted how understanding soils can guide sustainable land and water management while shaping the next generation of scientists.

Prof Van Tol, from the Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, began with a humorous reflection on his high school band: “We were going to make it big. The only thing we needed was a name for the band, but we couldn’t agree on one. In the end, we didn’t make it big because we didn’t have a name for the band. A very positive spin-off is that tonight you are listening to a lecture and not to me singing.” He used this story as a metaphor for academia, explaining that just as a band needs a clear identity to succeed, academics benefit from taking stock of their work and reflecting on their direction. “It is really unique that one has the opportunity – and this is what I like so much about academia – to reflect on the past few years and decades and to say, this is what I have done so far, and also to reflect on what worked, what didn’t work, and what we should be doing in the future,” he said, emphasising the value of looking back in order to plan ahead.

The stories soils tell

He explained the principle behind the lecture’s title, inspired by Emeritus Professor Johan Bouma: “We, as soil scientists, need to speak on behalf of the soils; we must tell their story.” Using examples ranging from sandy, clayey, and loamy soils to soils with red, yellow, grey, and even green or blue tints, he emphasised that “each soil has its own story to tell” and that understanding these differences is crucial for planning, management, and sustainable resource use.

He shared a personal anecdote about his youngest son, who was learning about soils at school: “He said there are sandy soils, clayey soils, and loamy soils … and if you want good crop growth, you should rather use loamy soil instead of the rest.” Prof Van Tol explained that soil diversity goes far deeper, with subtle colour variations and structures revealing how water moves through the ground. For example, “If the iron is oxidised, the soils maintain their red colour. If the iron is reduced by water, you are left with grey soil. A grey colour in the soil indicates periods of significant saturation.”

A key focus of Prof Van Tol’s research is hydropedology, the study of interactions between soil and water. “Soil properties influence how water flows through them, and how the water flows through them – or stagnates in them – will in turn influence how the soils will look,” he explained. He highlighted practical applications, including informing land-use change approvals under the National Water Act, predicting microbial pollutant movement, and developing landslide early-warning systems in South Africa. He also cited the alpine research station in the Northern Drakensberg, describing it as “the highest station in Africa” and part of a long-term socio-ecological research platform that invites collaboration and offers a real-world example of studying soils in extreme environments.

Lessons, mentorship, and impact

Reflecting on his career, he emphasised mentorship and student development: “We often think that we are busy with research, but we are actually in the ‘people business’ – capacitating students. Every research paper is essentially just a progress report; lasting impact lies in how students are shaped.” He also spoke about commitment, patience, and long-term engagement in research and policy: “Even small actions, when carried out with sincerity and persistence, can create huge and lasting change.” Prof Van Tol encouraged adaptability and critical thinking, stressing that “the sheer number of publications will probably matter far less than the quality of research and the evidence of the real impact it provides.”

In conclusion, Prof Van Tol expressed gratitude to colleagues, friends, family, and mentors, dedicating the lecture to two late mentors and his father, acknowledging their profound influence on his life and career.

About Prof Johan van Tol

Prof Johan van Tol obtained his BSc (Agric) in Agronomy and Soil Science (2006), MSc in Soil Science (cum laude, 2008), and PhD in Soil Science (2011) from the University of the Free State. After completing his doctorate, he joined the University of Fort Hare as a lecturer, later senior lecturer, before returning to the UFS in 2016.

An NRF-rated scientist, Prof Van Tol has led or contributed to numerous nationally and internationally funded projects, focusing on hydropedology. His research has informed national water policy, and he has completed more than 100 consultancy projects providing practical soil solutions. He has published more than 90 scientific articles and book chapters and serves as an associate editor for Discover Soil and the South African Journal of Plant and Soil. Prof Van Tol is also a former President of the Soil Science Society of South Africa and chairs the Hydropedology Working Group of the International Union of Soil Sciences.

News Archive

Conference: Expanded ARV treatment

2005-03-02

VENUE: University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
DATE: 30 March 2005 - 1 April 2005

ARV Programme as on 24Feb Download Word document
Programme Special events Download Word document

Official web site www.fshealth.gov.za/subsites/arvc

Rationale for the Conference
At the time of the planned Conference, much ground would have been covered, both in the Free State and in South Africa, in respect of the expanded public sector ARV treatment programme in respect of research, experiences in practice, training of staff, treatment of patients, lessons learned, successes and failures, etc. The time would then be quite opportune to share these in a systematic manner with other provinces and countries, as well as with the large variety of stakeholders and role players in the ARV and related domains, be they academics and researchers, policy makers and service/facility managers, the variety of caregivers, and the community organisations and affected patients.

The Conference and current research
The proposed Conference is, firstly, directly linked to the current research on the public sector roll-out of ARV treatment in the Free State conducted by several research institutions (e.g. CIET, CHSR&D, UCT Lung Institute). Secondly, the Conference could and would serve as a forum for other research groups in the country and further a field to report and share knowledge and experiences on ARV treatment and related initiatives. Lastly, the Conference will stage a golden opportunity for researchers and scientists, on the one hand, and policy makers, managers, and caregivers (as knowledge users), on the other hand, to engage in cross-disciplinary discourse on this mutual and topical theme.

Theme of Conference
Expanded ARV treatment in the Free State: sharing experiences

Focus
The focus is primarily on public sector ARV treatment in the Free State, but also initiatives/activities/perspectives of relevance to the Free State elsewhere in the country at large and further a field, as well as relevant ARV initiatives in the public, private, NGO and FBO sectors. Bear in mind, however, that ARV treatment is but part of a much more comprehensive approach to HIV and AIDS. The Conference will, therefore, not narrowly focus on the ARV treatment programme only. The broader context, other relevant dimensions, and a comprehensive approach to the challenges of HIV, AIDS and TB are of equal importance.

The purpose of the Conference
Enhance meaningful exchange, mutual understanding and collaboration among researchers, scientists, policy makers, managers and practitioners in the field of ARV treatment and related fields.

Share experiences in the various spheres of ARV treatment and related spheres (policy, management, practice, research, training, public-private-civil society sectors).

Record, reflect and report on the establishment of the ARV treatment programme in the Free State, and in within the context of the comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme.

Disseminate important research results on ARV treatment and related themes to health policy makers, managers, practitioners, communities and to the research community.

Stimulate discourse among various disciplines and various stakeholders/role players involved in ARV treatment and related programmes.

Sensitise and acquaint researchers to the requirements of policy makers, managers and practitioners in respect of ARV treatment and related fields.

Facilitate the implementation of research results in ARV treatment policy, programmes and practice.

Dissemination of Conference-related information
Information generated during the Conference could feed into policy, management and practice of ARV treatment, the training accompanying such programme, and the existing body of knowledge. After the Conference the information will be disseminated via the Internet and by scientific and popular publications.

Date and duration
Set for 30 & 31 March & 1 April 2005; to commence at 09:00 on the first day (30 March) and to end at 16:30 (1 April) the third day.

Format and scope of Conference
Alternating plenary, parallel sessions and debates focused on topical issues and interest groups. The Conference will strive to be maximally interactive and participative.

Themes and topics to cover:

Policy, management and health services/practice (various levels and contexts – clinical treatment, information, IT systems, pharmacy, laboratories, nutrition)
Research covering all relevant disciplines and diverse dimensions of ARV treatment and related themes
Training and evaluation of training
Patients, communities and civil society organisations
Public, private, NGO, FBO initiatives and partnerships

Emphasis will be on the Free State, however, with of significant involvement from other provinces, SADC countries, and countries further a field. The thrust will be to export lessons and experiences from the Free State, but also to import lessons and experiences from other provinces, countries and sectors.

Presenters
Key presenters from the Free State, other provinces, South Africa, from the private, FBO and NGO sectors, and from several other countries

Delegates
About half of the delegates will be Free State stakeholders and role players (all levels and all contexts). The other half will be role players and stakeholders in the ARV and related fields from other provinces, the national level, and other countries, as well as from the private, public and non-governmental sectors.

Focused workshops
Provision will be made for half-a-day or one-day workshop initiatives on the third day (1 April 2005).

Enquiries
For more information please contact:

Prof Dingie van Rensburg
Centre for Health Systems Research & Development
University of the Free State
PO Box 339
Bloenfontein
SOUTH AFRICA
9300

Contact:
Carin van Vuuren
Conference Organiser
Centre for Health Systems Research & Development
University of the Free State
P.O.Box 339
Bloemfontein
South Africa
9300
Tel +27 (0) 51 401 2181
Fax +27 (0) 51 4480370
Cell 0832932890
e-mail: arvconference.hum@mail.uovs.ac.za

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