Proof by underpants
Beweisstück Unterhose (Proof by Underpants) was a citizen science initiative launched in 2021 by the University of Zurich (UZH) and the federal research institute Agroscope in collabooration with Catta and Atlant Bieri. Together with 1000 Citizen scientists It used standard 100% cotton underwear buried in soil to measure and map soil biological activity and health across Switzerland. The project received global media attention and was featured in Science Magazine.
Background
Soil enables human life on earth, as it is crucial to almost every aspect of life on land. However, little is known about the creatures that live and thrive in it. Soils accommodate billions of bacteria, fungi, insects, worms and other creatures. IN fact an estimated 59% of global biodiversity lives in soil. The abundance and activity of soil biological communities are central features of healthy soils. The more diverse the soil community, the better the soil can function. For soils, functioning means to be able to recycle organic matter, to support plant growth and the production of food and raw materials, to filter water and protect against natural hazards. This joint venture of the Swiss federal research institute Agroscope and the University of Zurich aimed at investigating soil life together with private gardeners, farmers and other interested citizens with the help of underpants. Underpants? That’s right: underpants.
Unveiling the Hidden Life of Soil
Soils and their biodiversity are hidden belowground and mostly invisible. Given the importance of soils for the planet and our existence, this is problematic, since what we cannot see, we hardly value. To make the hidden life of soil visible and to shine a spotlight on the essential but rather unknown and fascinating universe below our feet, we initiated the project Proof by underpants. Cotton underpants serve as a simple tool to make soil life visible. Once buried in soil, the cotton material gets decomposed by a variety of soil organisms. The more the underpants get decomposed, the more biologically active and the more healthy the soil, this was the simple hypothesis tested (Fig. 1).
Figure 1: Buried cotton underpants can serve as simple tool to make soil life visible. Together with 1000 Citizen scientists, Proof by underpants tested the hypothesis that the stronger the underpants get decomposed, the more biologically active and the healthier the soil.
Citizen Science - Doing science together
Citizen Science refers to joint research by professionals from the scientific community and private individuals from the general public. The participants take part in all phases of the research process, can have their say and help shape it.
Proof by underpants did not only serve to collect and evaluate data, the project also aimed to enable participants to observe and understand their soils. Soil samples from all 1000 investigated sites were analyzed in the analytical chemistry laboratories at Agroscope and each participant received individual feedback on their soil together with detailed explanations about how to interpret the analyzed parameters and with tips and recommendations on how to maintain and improve the health of their soils.
A group of citizen advisors accompanied the development of the project activities. Moreover, participants were invited to the Agroscope laboratories to participate in sample analyses and derive insights into the scientific processes.
Lastly, all participants were given the opportunity to serve as co-authors on the scientific publication presenting the results of the study in the journal Plants, People, Planet, which has been accepted for publication and will be published, soon.
A picture book created as part of the project introduces the key players in soil life and provides interesting background information. It is available in German and French and can be purchased in book stores (Der Dschungel im Boden).
Global media attention
The fact that 1000 Swiss citizen scientists buried 2000 underpants to study soil health caught widespread attention in the media with media reports recorded in over 27 countries and on almost every continent.
In german-speaking countires, the project was subjet in a range of TV science documentaries, as well as evening news. Moreover, it resulted in a range of follow-up initiatives by other organizations.
The underpants dress
The project used 2000 new organic cotton underpants to ensure a standardized material that alloed us to draw sound scientific conclusions. To ensure that the decomposed underpants do not end up in the land-fill, we sought collaboration with the art scene to give the underpants a second life after the project and to further raise awareness about soils. In a collaboration with the fashion designer Edie Lou Studio, a rococo ball dress was created from decomposed underwear to put soil where they belong- into the spotlight.
Smartphone App
Our App Beweisstueck Unterhose includes information and instructions on how to assess the health of your soil with simple methods (including burying underpants, of course). Use it to get to know your soil. if you are interested to use the App for your research project, please contact us.
The app is currently being rebranded and redesigned and will be released soon under its new name SOILPROOF.
Project team
Project team
Dr. Franz Bender (UZH & Agroscope)
Dr. Noemi Peter (UZH & Agroscope)
Pia Viviani and Claudia Weik (catta.ch)
Sandie Masson (Agroscope)
Alain Valzano-Held (Agroscope)
Dr. Luca Bragazza (Agroscope)
Atlant Bieri (atlantbieri.ch)
Prof. Dr. Marcel van der Heijden (UZH & Agroscope)