Nebraska Student Judges International Soil Competition in China

Liz Eroshenko, a master's student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, traveled to Nanjing, China, to serve as a judge at the 5th International Soil Judging Competition. The event hosted 18 teams from 14 countries, including participants from Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Russia.

Eroshenko helped organize the competition by preparing soil pits, developing detailed answer keys, and explaining evaluation criteria alongside fellow Nebraska alumnus William Hernández. The experience allowed her to build international connections and gain insight into global soil classification systems, supporting her goal of becoming a professor who leads a collegiate soil‑judging program.

She described the competition as a learning opportunity that combined scientific rigor with cultural exchange, noting the enthusiasm of the worldwide student community.