Thirty thousand schoolchildren across Denmark will participate in a nationwide study to investigate the health of Danish soil. The students will collect soil samples and data for researchers to analyze.

The annual mass experiment, organized by the national science center Astra, will focus on soil condition. The study aims to gather insights into urban areas, parks, and playgrounds, which are typically under-researched.

Professor Mogens Humlekrog Greve from Aarhus University emphasizes the importance of the study, noting that much of the soil in Europe, including Denmark, is in poor condition. The collected data will provide a unique understanding of soil health indicators, such as carbon content, density, and pH value.

Students will take soil samples at depths of 10 and 40 centimeters and document the presence of earthworms. This hands-on experience will enhance their understanding of science and its real-world applications.

Lene Christensen, program manager and biologist at Astra, highlights the educational benefits of the project. The practical teaching approach allows students to contribute to a larger scientific purpose, which they find engaging.

The study, supported by the Nordea Foundation and the Villum Foundation, begins on Monday and will last for four weeks. Researchers from Aarhus University, Aalborg University, and the Technical University of Denmark will analyze the samples and data collected by the students.

The mass experiment includes representation from 96 out of 98 of the country’s municipalities, with 30,000 students from 1384 classes and 500 schools participating. The mass experiment has been conducted since 2007, with previous studies focusing on topics such as lactic acid bacteria and indoor climate in classrooms.