World Soils and their Assessment Course
Preliminary programme
Sections: Overview | Who is it for? | Tentative programme | Registration
 |
 |
 |
Overview
This is a course on the soils of the world and their assessment. It will provide an introduction to the soils of the world and their diversity, their main forming factors, classification (according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, update 2015), and management. The course will include lectures and hands-on exercises. It will make use of the facilities of the World Soil Museum.
The programme includes a field excursion in the area around Wageningen, which has a rich diversity of landscapes and soils. In the field, several topics will be addressed including: soil and landscape relations, soil formation, soil classification, field description of soils, and soil management. Furthermore, the programme includes lectures and hands-on exercises on soil functions and regional planning as well as soil management strategies for soil conservation and optimization of soil functions.
Participants will be introduced to and apply the international classification system the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (2014, update 2015).
Guest lecturers: Seppe Deckers and Rachel Creamer.
Registration
World Soils and their Assessment (WSA) course, register now!
Registration is open until 1 March 2021 (Early-Bird registration, 31 December 2020).
Note that when registering, you will be redirected to a Wageningen University & Research page in a new window to process your registration and payment. Please read carefully our cost and payment section.
Special note
Due to the measures and regulations to prevent further spreading of COVID-19 in The Netherlands, it is not certain that the 2021 ISRIC Spring School will be held on-site in Wageningen. We aim for an on-site Spring School, but in case the guidelines and regulations of the Dutch government and WUR campus prevent this, we may cancel the courses for 2021 or organize the courses online (with the needed adaptations). We will keep our Spring School participants regularly informed about further developments.
Who is it for?
This course aims at scientists, professionals, e.g. in natural resources management planning, and students who have an interest in (the classification of) soils of the world and their assessment for their work or study, with aspects of soil formation, description, classification and evaluation.
A general background in soil science or physical geography is assumed (basic principles).
Programme
*Working programme subject to changes.
DAY 1 (Monday, 17 May 2021): Soils of the World and their classification
|
Block |
Topic |
Type / Room |
Lecturer |
|
8.30 - 9.00 |
Registration and Coffee |
Hall Gaia building |
|
|
9.00 - 9.45 |
Opening of the ISRIC Spring School 2019 Group photo |
Gaia 1 |
Rik van den Bosch (ISRIC director), Maria Ruiperez |
|
9.45 - 10.30 |
Introduction round participants in elevator pitches |
Interactive Gaia 1 |
Participants |
|
10.30 - 11.00 |
Coffee break |
|
|
|
11.00 - 12.30 |
Introduction to WRB concepts and terminology |
Lecture / WSM
|
Stephan Mantel |
|
12.30 - 13.30 |
Lunch |
|
|
|
13.30 - 15.00 |
Soils of the World their classification and management, with a focus on Africa |
Lecture / WSM
|
|
|
15.00 - 15.30 |
Coffee break |
|
|
|
15.30 - 17.30 |
Soils of the World their classification and management, with a focus on Africa |
Interactive lecture, WSM
|
TBA |
DAY 2 (Tuesday, 18 May 2021): Applying the World Reference Base for Soil Resources
|
Block |
Topic |
Type / Room |
Lecturer |
|
9.00 - 10.30 |
Field description of soils |
Interactive lecture, WSM |
Stephan Mantel |
|
10.30 - 11.00 |
Coffee break |
|
|
|
11.00 - 12.30 |
Introduction to global soils in the World Soil Museum; the distribution of soils in the world |
Lecture , WSM |
Stephan Mantel |
|
12.30 - 13.30 |
Lunch |
|
|
|
13.30 - 15.00 |
Applying the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) |
Exercise, WSM |
Stephan Mantel, Niels Batjes, Johan Leenaars |
|
15.00 - 15.30 |
Coffee break |
|
|
|
15.30 - 17.30 |
Applying the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) |
Exercise, WSM |
Stephan Mantel, Niels Batjes, Johan Leenaars |
|
19:00 - 22:00 |
Dinner in town (Colours World Food restaurant) |
||
DAY 3 (Wednesday, 19 May 2021): Field visit landscape and soils in the vicinity of Wageningen
|
Block |
Topic |
Type / Room |
Lecturer |
|
8.30 - 18.00 |
Field excursion (lunch in the field). Practice in soil geography, soil description and soil classification at various sites in the vicinity of Wageningen |
Exercise |
Stephan Mantel, Niels Batjes, Johan Leenaars |
DAY 4 (Thursday, 20 May 2021): Soil functions and sustainable soil management
|
Block |
Topic |
Type / Room |
Lecturer |
|
9.00 - 10.30 |
Soil functions and regional planning |
Lecture Orion, C4016 |
Prof Rachel Creamer, (Stephan Mantel) |
|
10.30 - 11.00 |
Coffee break |
|
|
|
11.00 - 12.30 |
Soil functions and regional planning, exercise/planning game |
Orion, C4016 |
Prof Rachel Creamer, (Stephan Mantel) |
|
12.30 - 13.30 |
Lunch |
|
|
|
13.30 - 15.00 |
Strategies for soil conservation and optimization of soil functions |
Lecture Orion, C4016 |
Godert van Lynden, Zhanguo Bai |
|
15.00 - 15.30 |
Coffee break |
|
|
|
15.30 - 17.00 |
Selection of strategies for soil conservation / optimization of soil functions, exercise |
Practical Orion, PC4051 |
Godert van Lynden, Zhanguo Bai |
| 17.00 - 18.30 | Meet the experts |
DAY 5 (Friday, 21 May 2021): World soil databases
|
Block |
Topic |
Type / room |
Lecturer |
|
9.00 - 10.00 |
World Soil Information Service |
Demonstration, Gaia 2 |
Eloi Ribeiro |
|
10.00 - 10.30 |
Coffee break |
|
|
|
10.30 - 12.30 |
Applying the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) |
Exercise, WSM |
Stephan Mantel, Niels Batjes, Johan Leenaars |
|
12.30 - 13.30 |
Lunch |
|
|
|
13.30 - 14.30 |
Course evaluation, certificates |
PC8045 (Orion) |
All |
|
14.30 - 15.30 |
Valuing the soil resource |
Guest lecture, Gaia 1 |
David Rossiter |
|
15.30 - 16.00 |
Closing words |
Gaia 1 |
Rik van den Bosch |