Virtual soil physics on the internet

This is a request for a one-off extension of the Filep project “Publikation bodenphysikalischer Vorlesungsexperimente im Internet” [“Publication of soil physics lecture experiments on the internet”]. The goal of the previous project was to document for students the demonstration experiments shown in the introductory Soil Physics lecture in the form of films and virtual experiments on the internet. The main goal of the follow-on project is to extend this platform. A secondary new goal involves virtual “projects” (case studies). In these exercises students will plan an experiment and conduct it such that they can best judge a predefined situation with the means available. Such realistic “games” are addressed in advanced courses as semester or group papers. A third set of goals are to intensify collaboration with other research units to assess the effect and quality of our web content, further develop our offering and above all to link with other Soil Physics e-learning platforms. A fourth goal will be to translate this platform into English, in view of the increasing English teaching component in the BSc and MSc programmes. This will make possible synergies between ETHZ (D-UWIS) and EPFL (ENAC).