Engaging Soil Science in Transdisciplinary Research Facing 'Wicked' Problems in the Information Society

The introduction of information and communication technology (ICT) has fundamentally changed the flow and role of data and information in our increasingly digital society and this also strongly affects soil science. Stakeholders become more knowledgeable and critical. This issue paper raises the question as to how the scientific community, and particularly soil science, can best deal with the implications of the ICT revolution. Problems are evident when studying sustainable development, presenting ”wicked” environmental problems that defy simple, straightforward solutions because many stakeholders are involved with contrasting opinions and interests, only allowing development of alternative options. A suggestion is made to establish Communities of Scientific Practice that interact with societal partners and the policy arena in a long-duration joint learning mode, promote and safeguard science quality and offer broad career perspectives for soil scientists.