USD College of Arts & Sciences Presents ‘Drowning in Dirt: Joseph Hutton and the Dust Bowl’ Exhibit
Created by the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, the exhibit explores the South Dakota Dust Bowl in the 1930s through the eyes of soil scientist Joseph Hutton. Hutton was one of South Dakota’s first soil scientists and was a professor of agronomy at South Dakota State University from 1911 to 1939.
Mark Sweeney, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Sustainability & Environment, and Ranjeet John, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Biology, are currently studying the 1930s Dust Bowl in the Northern Plains through a National Science Foundation grant. Their research highlights the potential for future dust storms related to climate change.
“While professors of science and history may view the world through different lenses, our combined knowledge is powerful when attempting to grasp big issues like the Dust Bowl,” said Sweeny. “Through a better understanding of the past, we can better prepare for the future.”
Preparing for that future comes with a closer look at the Dust Bowl in South Dakota—a topic that may resonate with students, faculty or community members whose families have been here for generations.
“When most people think of the Dust Bowl, they think of Southern Great Plains states like Kansas, Oklahoma or Texas, but it impacted South Dakota too,” said Sweeney. “Looking back at history reminds us that severe drought isn’t just a story from the past. It can have lasting impacts on communities and it offers an important perspective as we think about what a changing climate could mean for the Northern Great Plains.”
The exhibit also offers an opportunity to examine the Dust Bowl through a scientific lens, showing how history and science can work together to deepen an individual’s understanding of environmental challenges.
“Faculty and students may find that the exhibit shows the value of science in solving problems back in the1930s. This is something they can reflect on and relate it to any number of current events that rely on science in making day-to-day decisions or even in policymaking,” said Sweeney. “It’s a nice example of how our disciplines intertwine and how science and history can be effectively communicated to the public.”
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