Dr. Noorallah Juma's interests

MY INTERESTS IN SOIL SCIENCE AND ACTIVITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Between 1996-2001, I taught an Introductory Soil Science course to over 1,200 students in the Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental and Conservation Sciences degree programs at the University of Alberta. I won the campus wide 'Chart Your Course' contests in 1997 and 1998 for designing and building extensive web applications. In 2000, I won the 2000 Tyrchniewicz Innovative Teaching Award, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics, University of Alberta for developing and integrating technology in the classroom.
Since 1998, I have led and developed Pedosphere.com in order to successfully position Soil Science in the context of Earth System Science. In 1999, the first volume of 'The Pedosphere and Its Dynamics: A Systems Approach to Soil Science' was launched with the publication of Volume 1 'Introduction to Soil Science and Soil Resources' by N. G. Juma in print and on-line. This resource has been recognized globally judging from the comments in the guest book from a broad audience. We have branded our product since 1999 and dominate the 'pedosphere' domain.

In August 2002, we launched the Pedosphere.com Soil Science test center, a customized web application. Since its inception as an interactivity product in 1998, it has already been used by more than 1,200 university students in Canada and elsewhere. The test center has been designed to become a benchmark site for testing the knowledge of students world wide. It can also be a global teaching/learning tool for students and instructors.

In addition to this, I continue to conduct research in the fields of Soil Microbiology, Soil Biochemistry and Soil Ecology at the University of Alberta. My specific research interests are in carbon and nitrogen transformations in soil; simulation modeling of C and N cycling; role of microflora and fauna in decomposition, nutrient cycling and soil structure formation in agro-ecosystems.

In addition to my interests in soil organic matter dynamics, nutrient cycling, soil structure formation and research on the long-term plots at Breton, I have now added an environmental thrust into my research program. I am now also studying pressurized at-grade private sewage treatment systems. These systems are being developed for accomplishing the final treatment of sewage effluent so that water can be safely returned to the environment. Safe use of this technique relies on the successful removal of contaminants in the applied effluent by filtration, chemical reaction and biological activity in soil. As this technique relies on the treatment of sewage effluent in the soil, the movement of water, dissolved organic compounds, soluble nutrients, and organisms in a forested landscape are being studied.

Please follow this link for more information of my activities in the field of Soil Science.

MY INTEREST IN SPIRITUAL SCIENCE

Besides my professional interest in soil science, I have a parallel research interest in religion and spiritual sciences. I am a practising Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim and have been brought up in the Alid tradition of a thinking and spiritual Islam: an Islam which leads to the development of the human soul to its highest levels as described by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah, also known as Aga Khan III :

"Islamic doctrine goes farther than the other great religions for it proclaims the presence of the soul, perhaps minute but nevertheless existing in an embryonic state in all existence in matter, in animals, trees, and space itself. Every individual, every molecule, every atom has its own spiritual relationship with the All-Powerful Soul of God. But men and women, being more highly developed, are immensely more advanced than the infinite number of other beings known to us. Islam acknowledges the existence of angels, of great souls who have developed themselves to the highest possible planes of human soul and higher, and who are centres of forces which are scattered throughout the universe. Without going as far as Christianity, Islam recognizes the existence of evil spirits which seek by means of their secret suggestions to turn us from good, from that strait way traced by God's finger for the eternal happiness of the humblest as of the greatest -- Abraham, Jesus, Mohammed."

SCHOLARLY WORKS

Transliterated Hazrat Ali's Kalam-e Mowla (The Sayings of Hazrat Ali). Published by the Shia Imami Ismailia Association of United Kingdom in 1975.
Transliterated Pir Hasan Kabirdin's Ana(n)t Akhado, Ana(n)t na Nav Chhuga and Moti Venti from Gujrati to Roman Script. Published by Salman Productions in 1994.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

I have taught principles of Ismaili Muslim faith to a wide variety of audiences:

Kindergarten
Grade 6
Grade 8-12
University Students
Manpower Teacher Training Program
Teachers camps
Ismaili Congregations in Canada, USA, UK, and Singapore

OUTREACH

I have embarked in teaching Spiritual Science via the internet. My website, SalmanSpiritual.Com, addresses issues of spiritual development within an Islamic context.

MY QUEST

I am a Soil Scientist
Who has been immersed into Soul Science.
Now my journey is from Soil to Soul:
From I in Soil to U in Soul;
From the Zahir (exoteric) to the Batin (esoteric);
From the Subject to the Object.

O Lord, increase me in knowledge,
And lead me to
The Inner Vision of the Truth
Which is the Batin of all batins!
Ameen!

ACADEMIC DEGREES

Ph.D.: University of Saskatchewan, 1981; Soil Microbiology
M.Sc.: Iowa State University, 1976; Soil Biochemistry
B.Sc. (High Honors): Southern Illinois University, 1974; Plant and Soil Science

CONTACT ADDRESSES


Mail	Ph/Fax/E-mail
Salman Productions 141 Garnet Road Sherwood Park, Alberta Canada T8A 2S5	(780) 416-4724 (780) 416-4725 Click here to e-mail me