We are joyful to announce that the SSSB organises an excursion, open to established and new members, on October 18th in Gedinne, the Ardennes.
During the day we will explore carefully selected parts of the geological and pedological trail of the Croix-Scaille (summary in French) and combine it with interactive examinations of soil profiles as well as participatory soil augering. This select mix of activities offers insights in some pedological peculiarities of the Ardennes and how field observations can contribute to understanding the relationship between rocks, soils and landscape. You will thus have the chance to discover, observe, scrutinize (by auger and on pits) some typical soils of the region, and discuss about their genesis, characteristics and connection with the landscape. In this process, we will be particularly attentive to share information adapted to each participant, whatever their area of expertise.
Program
09.00 : bus pick up right at the back of the Namur railway station (Boulevard du Nord, see map).
10.00 : outcrop of the Fépin conglomerate
11.15 : soil profile – Podzol
12.30 : Tour du Millénaire – Welcome by the Mayor of Gedinne & lunch (bring it yourself ; 1 fresh local drink offered)
13.30 : soil augering – “Sol à argile blanche” (don’t hesitate to take your own auger !)
14.30 : soil profile – Acid brown forest soil & ICP Forests observation plot (intensive monitoring of forest ecosystems)
16.00 : former quarry (quartzite & phyllades) & soil profile – Acid brown forest soil with micropodzolisation
17.30 : back to the Namur railway station
Accessibility
Both morning spots are reached by bus. The three afternoon spots (points 4, 7/8 & 13 of the geopedological trail) are located along a 2 km route (4 km round trip) that we’ll do on foot, through very accessible roads.
Registration and fee
The fee is 30 € for members (30 € + membership for people who are not yet members). This fee includes access to the profiles, excursion guide, transportation, and 1 local drink during the lunch. The number of participants is restricted to 35 for practical reasons, registration will be handled on a “first-come first-served” basis. Registration is open till October 1st.
In good tradition the Belgian Soil Science Society is yet once more organizing its ‘Young Soil Scientist Day‘ where we offer a forum to starting researchers in both fundamental and applied soil science. Open to young (MSc & PhD-students and young post-docs) working at a Belgian Academic or Research Institute. Following last year’s successful edition we hope to see many of you back and welcome new faces of course as well. See the below link to register and find more info on abstract submission.
An update: 42 registrants & program provided below. Find the book of abstracts here below!
Register for the DYSS 2024 as presenter or regular attendee and meet your fellow soil scientists. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to exchange, learn and network. Price depends on member status.
Give your preference of oral or poster presentation. There is no limit to the number of poster presentations. MSc. thesis students are warmly encouraged to make a poster on their actual thesis work, with special attention to the research question they are trying to answer + the methods of their research.
Deadline for submitting abstracts is February 26nd 2024.
Submission: send your abstract to Ann.Verdoodt@UGent.be with the following your e-mail heading DYSS2024_Name_Given Name
Format Language: English & max 300 words, Use the following template
We are very pleased to announce that – after digging ourselves out of the swamp of the corona pandemic – our society’s annual excursion in May is back in full force! For this joyful occasion, we have prepared quite a show for you!
University forest Beverbeek, Hamont-Achel: Dr. Stefaan Dondeyne will take us on a below-ground trip to the Middle-Ages with Plaggic Anthrosols along with related landscape and land use features (Pine forest with human disturbed Podzols; forest conversion, wetlands with bog myrtle and outfields separated from the infields by a ditch and an earthen bank (Dutch: ‘wolvensprong ’).
A step over the border to the ‘Kraanvenne’ nature reserve with shifting dunes and Heathlands
A final stop at Achel Kluis for our society’s famous ‘Sundowner’!
Registration & fee
The excursion is exclusive to members, so the fee is 60 Euro for members, or 60 Euro + membership for people who are not yet members. This fee includes access to the profiles, excursion guide, transportation, and drink during the ‘Sundowner’.
Registrations are open NOW, so get ready to ‘get some sand in your shoes’! The number of participants is restricted for practical reasons, registration will be handled on a ‘first-come first-served’ basis.
In good tradition the Belgian Soil Science Society is yet once more organizing its ‘Young Soil Scientist Day‘ where we offer a forum to starting researchers in both fundamental and applied soil science. Open to young (MSc & PhD-students and young post-docs) working at a Belgian Academic or Research Institute. Following last year’s successful edition we hope to see many of you back and welcome new faces of course as well. See the below link to register and find more info on abstract submission.
What
A full day of talks and poster presentations by young soil scientists
Best oral presentation and best poster receive awards
Keynote speaker Karen Vancampenhout (KULeuven)
Coffee breaks & sandwich lunch included in registration fee
Final program here below + download the book of abstracts
Welcome Prof. Jeroen Meersmans (ULiège) – President of SSSB
9.10-10.30
Oral presentations – 9.10 – 9.30: Boito Lucilla – Silicates rock! Steps towards application of silicate rocks to mitigate climate change – 9.30 – 9.50: Arthur Vienne – Insights from a basalt mesocosm experiment. Do earthworms stimulate carbon sequestration through enhanced weathering? – 9:50 – 10.10: Nicolas Kovacs – Converting grassland to a bamboo plantation affects soil organic carbon stock and dynamics – 10:10 – 10.30: Kelly Wittemans – Digital mapping of soil properties in Flanders using the DOV soil database
10.30-11.30
Coffee Break + Posters (incl. poster tour start@10.40)
11.30-12.30
Workshop “Research ethic and misconduct: a focus on scientific publication”
12.30-13.30
Lunch Break + Posters (incl. poster tour start@12.45)
13.30-14.10
Key Note Presentation Prof. Karen Vancampenhout (KU Leuven) – Former president of SSSB The ways of the dead – finding a nexus between biotic and abiotic drivers of soil carbon cycling
14.10-14.30
Oral presentations – 14.10 – 14.30: Marie Dincher – Major element residence times in humus from a beech forest: the role of element forms and recycling
14.30-15.30
Coffee Break + Posters (incl. poster tour start@14.40)
15.30-16.30
Oral presentations – 15.30 – 15.50: Astrid Francoys – Assessing capillary rise in a laboratory set-up: impact of contrasting groundwater depths on topsoil moisture and mineralization of added plant material – 15.50 – 16.10: Florian Lauryssen – Phosphorus reference conditions in lowland streams: survey in old forests and anaerobic sediment release – 16.10 – 16.30: Yixian Chen – Data-driven prediction of gully densities at the global scale
16.30-17.00
Closing and Drink
When & Where?
Date 24/03/2023: 8h30h-17h00
Venue: Royal Academy, Hertogstraat 1, Brussels – The Ockeghem room (Oral presentations) & The Atrium (Posters & coffee)
Registration
Register for the DYSS 2023 as presenter or regular attendee and meet your fellow soil scientists. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to exchange, learn and network. Price depends on member status.
Give your preference of oral or poster presentation. There is no limit to the number of poster presentations. MSc. thesis students are warmly encouraged to make a poster on their actual thesis work, with special attention to the research question they are trying to answer + the methods of their research.
Deadline for submitting abstracts is March 6th 2023.
Submission: send your abstract to Ann.Verdoodt@UGent.be with the following your e-mail heading DYSS2023_Name_Given Name
Format Language: English & max 300 words, Use the following template
Venue: Royal Academy, Hertogstraat 1, Brussels – Rubenszaal & Atrium
Programme
8.45 – 9.15: Arrival (coffee in Atrium – presentations in Rubenszaal) 9.15 – 9.20: Welcome (Rubenszaal) 9.20 – 9.40: Invited Speaker – Bas van Wesemael (UCLouvain) Monitoring of soil health indicators in support of policy measures 9.40 – 9.55: Oral Presentation – Lisa Joos (ILVO) The response of the soil microbiome after short-term disturbances: a bio-indicator to reflect the soil health status 9.55 -10.15: Invited Speaker – Giles Colinet (ULiège) Healthy soils, healthy food? A trace metal perspective in kitchen and market gardens 10.15 – 10.30: Oral Presentation – Carlos Wetzel (LIST) Soil bacterial, fungal and diatom biodiversity in Luxembourg
10.30 – 11.00: Coffee + Posters
11.00 – 11.20: Invited Speaker – Martien Swerts (Vlaams Planbureau voor Omgeving) Risk-based thresholds and soil functional indicators in the context of the EU soil health law 11.20- 11.50: Debate What defines a “Good Soil” — Scientific reflections for policymakers
11.50 – 12.10: Invited Speaker – Ellen Desie (KULeuven) Soil health in forest soils – challenges and solutions 12.10– 12.25: Oral Presentation – Lola Leveau (UClouvain) The “earthworm basket” method appears promising for measuring mulch burial in on-farm research 12.25 -12.40: Oral Presentation – Robrecht Van Der Bauwhede (KULeuven) Optimizing screening of rock dusts for acid forest soil restoration 12.40 – 12.45: Closing Remarks
Scope
As we have entered the Anthropocene, the awareness has grown that soils are a vital, though limited, resource, supporting the delivery of many key ecosystem services such as food security and climate regulation. Given the critical role of soils in securing human well-being a range of new policy-making initiatives have been set up recently, such as the EU Soil Health Law. Hence, an exchange between policymakers and scientists is crucial in order to find out what parameters are key in determining a healthy soil. Or in other words, a very important question remains: “What Defines a Good Soil”?
In the light of this question we would like to invite scientific contributions focusing on assessments of either physical, chemical or biological indicators of soil quality and/or soil health. We welcome both oral and poster and presentations covering a wide range of ecosystems, including natural, agricultural and urban environments.
Oral presentation will be followed by a debate on the suitability of a soil health approach in the context of the current EU law making process as well as on how to provide policy makers with scientific information and tools needed to protect our soils and secure the delivery of ecosystem services for future generations.
The DYSS was a success with 37 participants and 14 new members! In total 14 oral presentations and 15 posters, accompanied by flash presentations and lively discussion in interaction with the audience.
Mr. Jacques Kilelawho was awarded for the best oral presentation, entitled “Effect of organic amendment on the physicochemical characteristics of tailing and root development of tree species, fifteen years after planting”.
Ms. Andrea Cecere was awarded best poster presentation, entitled “Impacts of soil conductivity on plant transpiration regulation under drought”
Congratulations to both and to all other high quality presentations. A few more impressions of the day below and we hope to see many of you all next year!
Venue: Royal Academy, Hertogstraat 1, Brussels – The Rubens auditorium (Oral presentations) & The Atrium (Posters & coffee)
Registration
Register for the DYSS 2022 and meet your fellow soil scientists. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to exchange, learn and network.
A full day of talks and poster presentations by young soil scientists
Keynote speaker Jean-Thomas Cornelis – “Pedology, a key discipline if we are to harness all the complexity of soil-root-plant interactions to build resilient ecosystem”
Best oral presentation and best poster receive awards and a priceless 😉 SSSB-knife!
Coffee breaks & sandwich lunch incl. in registration fee
Extra workshop (to be confirmed) on work/life balance
Program: SSSB – Day of the Young Soil Scientists
* 8.30 onwards — Doors Open
* 8.45 – 9.00 — Registration
* 9.00 – 9.15—Welkom
– Prof. Karen Vancampenhout (KU Leuven) – President of SSSB
* 9.15 – 10.30 — Oral Presentations
– 9.15 – 9.30 : Marie Dincher – Importance of particles in the input-output budget of major elements in humus of a beech forest
– 9.30 – 9.45 : Lin Wang – Effects of treated wastewater irrigation on soil quality
– 9:45 – 10:00 : Klara Dvorakova – Improving soil organic carbon predictions from Sentinel 2 soil composites by assessing surface conditions and uncertainties
– 10:00 – 10.15 : Florence Tan – Evaluating the large-scale applicability of hillslope sediment connectivity models
– 10.15 – 10.30 : Mekonnen Getahun – Soils and vegetation of the Afro-Alpine vegetation belts of East African rift valley system: a literature review
– 11.15 – 11.30 : Philippe Roux – Influence of warming on ecosystem elemental budget, an Ecotron experiment.
– 11.30 – 11.45 : Haichao Li – Soil textural control on moisture distribution at the microscale and its effect on organic matter mineralization
– 11.45 – 12.00 : Ine Rosier – Modelling the effects of vegetated landscape elements on the rainfall-runoff behaviour of agricultural catchments
– 12.00 – 12.15 : Jacques Kilela – Effect of organic amendment on the physicochemical characteristics of tailing and root development of tree species, fifteen years after planting
– Prof. Jean Thomas Cornelis (University of British Columbia) – Former president of SSSB
Pedology, a key discipline if we are to harness all the complexity of soil-root-plant interactions to build resilient ecosystems
* 13.45 – 15.00 — Oral Presentations
– 13.45 – 14.00 : Ioanna Panagea – Can we reverse the negative effects on topsoil structure and organic carbon caused by inversion tillage? Analysis of long-term experiments in Europe
– 14.00 – 14.15 : Junwei Hu – Do belowground herbivorous and bacterivorous microfauna influence plant growth independently?
– 14.15 – 14.30 : Lin Lin – Visual assessment of soil structural quality across soil textures and compaction levels – examination of profile walls vs. intact soil cores
– 14.30 – 14.45 : Zimmin Li – Aggregation reduces the release of bioavailable silicon from allophane and phytolith
– 14.45 – 15.00 : Florian Lauryssen – Estimation of the natural background of phosphate in a lowland river using tidal marsh sediment cores
* 15.00 – 15.30 — Coffee Break + Posters
* 15.30 – 16.30 — Workshop : Mental Health
– Merel Ackx – Career Development Advisor KU Leuven
* 16.30 – 17.00 — Closing & Drink
Abstract submission – closed
Scope Any contribution related to soil science Add future challenges dealing with your field of expertise at the end of both your abstract and presentation and present your perspectives
There is no limit to the number of poster presentations! M.Sc. thesis students are warmly encouraged to make a poster on their actual thesis work, with special attention to the research question they are trying to answer + the methods of their research.
Format Title, Authors , Abstract max 400 words – use this template Communication preference (Poster/Oral) Language: English
Deadline: 11/03/2022
Submission: send your abstract to jeroen.meersmans@uliege.be use the following template:
