Rate My Professor Jane Rickson

Professor Jane Rickson is the Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation at Cranfield University, within the Cranfield Soil and Agrifood Institute in the School of Water, Energy and Environment. She possesses over 35 years of experience in research, consultancy, and teaching focused on soil and water engineering, with a specialization in soil degradation, erosion processes, and land degradation impacts. Her research investigates the causes and consequences of soil erosion, which imposes an annual economic cost exceeding £1.5 billion on the UK. Rickson collaborates with farmers, land-based charities, and government entities to develop practical, cost-effective solutions for sustainable soil management. Trained initially as a geomorphologist, she earned her first degree in Geography, followed by an MSc in Agricultural Engineering from Silsoe College, Cranfield University, in the early 1980s, and a PhD from Cranfield University titled 'The use of geotextiles for soil erosion control'.

Beginning her career as a postgraduate student at Cranfield University, Rickson advanced through various roles to her current professorial chair. She served as President of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers from 2018 to 2020 and holds designations as a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (FIAgrE), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and Member of the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists. Among her major awards are the Outstanding Achievement award and the Engineering, Science and Maths award from Women Leaders MK in 2019, the Andrew Medal from the Society of Chemical Industry in 2021, and inclusion in the Women's Engineering Society Top 50 Women in Engineering in 2021. Key publications include 'Efficacy of mulch and tillage options to reduce runoff and soil loss from asparagus fields: An experimental study' (Catena, 2020), 'Selecting plant traits for soil erosion control in grassed waterways' (European Journal of Soil Science, 2021), and 'Changes in soil surface properties under simulated rainfall: Effects of polyacrylamide and long-term land use' (Geoderma, 2023). Her contributions advance UN Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), influencing policies on sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and climate-resilient land management.