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Spartan Geographer Chris Baish earns rare “trifecta” of soil science awards

June 23, 2026 - Diane Huhn

Chris BaishThe Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences at Michigan State University is celebrating a momentous achievement by one of its recent alumni. Dr. Chris Baish (Ph.D. 2025) has been named the recipient of the 2026 Emil Truog Soil Science Outstanding Dissertation Award. 

Conferred annually by the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), the highly competitive Truog Award recognizes a recent Ph.D. graduate who has made unique and outstanding contributions to the field as evidenced by their doctoral thesis. Widely acknowledged as the benchmark for the best soil science dissertation over a three-year window, the award honors the legacy of pioneering soil scientist Emil Truog and includes a certificate and a monetary honorarium. 

The Truog award marks the culmination of an extraordinary, nationally competitive "trifecta" of accolades spanning Dr. Baish's graduate career: 

  • 2026: Emil Truog Soil Science Outstanding Dissertation Award (SSSA). 
  • 2024: The Peter Birkeland Soil Geomorphology Award—the premier "soils" honor bestowed by the Geological Society of America (GSA). 
  • 2022: The Advancing Pedology Award (SSSA), which recognizes exceptional discoveries, new analytical methods, or problem-solving that significantly advance the field of pedology. 

Alan Arbogast and Chris Baish demonstrating dune soils during an annual GEO Camp event for new graduate students. As a physical geographer, Dr. Baish's research leverages soil geomorphology to decipher complex landscape histories and dynamics.  

Dr. Baish’s robust academic portfolio is backed by practical field experience. Prior to returning to graduate study at MSU in Spring 2022, he investigated soil variability and vehicle mobility corridors in northeastern Europe as an Associate Researcher at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, Nevada. He also previously served with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a Soil Conservation Aide in northeastern Iowa, working directly on soil and water quality conservation. 

This prestigious trifecta serves as a springboard for the next chapter of his academic journey. This fall, Dr. Baish will officially launch his tenure-track career as an Assistant Professor of Soil Science at Auburn University. 

The entire Spartan Geography community extends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to Chris as he continues to break new ground in soil geography and pedology!