World Soils and their Assessment Course
Important annoucement
In light of the coronavirus outbreak, the Spring School for 2020 has been definitely cancelled.
We took into consideration the health and well-being of our international participants as well as the uncertainty about the end of the corona crisis, and the international and local measures that may still be in place in the coming months.
This decision was difficult for us to take because the Spring School is an important event that keeps us connected with our soil science and user community. The only thing we can do now is looking forward to the next edition in 2021! Dates will be announced in September 2020.
Sections: Overview | Who is it for? | Tentative programme | Registration
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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 2 March 2020 (Early-Bird registration, 31 December 2019).
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.
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, 11 May 2020): Soils of the World and their classification
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Block |
Topic |
Type / Room |
Lecturer |
|
8.30 - 9.00 |
Registration and Coffee |
Hall Gaia building |
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9.00 - 9.45 |
Opening of the ISRIC Spring School 2019 Group photo |
Gaia 1 |
Rik van den Bosch (ISRIC director), Maria Ruiperez Gonzalez |
|
9.45 - 10.30 |
Introduction round participants in elevator pitches |
Interactive Gaia 1 |
Participants |
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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 |
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13.30 - 15.00 |
Soils of the World their classification and management, with a focus on Africa |
Lecture / WSM
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|
15.00 - 15.30 |
Coffee break |
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15.30 - 17.30 |
Soils of the World their classification and management, with a focus on Africa |
Interactive lecture, WSM
|
prof. dr. ir Seppe Deckers (KU Leuven) |
DAY 2 (Tuesday, 12 May 2020): 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 |
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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 |
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|
|
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 |
S. Mantel, N. Batjes, J. Leenaars |
|
19:00 - 22:00 |
Dinner in town (Colours World Food restaurant) |
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DAY 3 (Wednesday, 13 May 2020): Field visit landscape and soils in the vicinity of Wageningen
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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, 14 May 2020): Soil functions and sustainable soil management
|
Block |
Topic |
Type / Room |
Lecturer |
|
9.00 - 10.30 |
Soil functions and regional planning |
Lecture Orion, C4016 |
Prof R. Creamer, (S. Mantel) |
|
10.30 - 11.00 |
Coffee break |
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11.00 - 12.30 |
Soil functions and regional planning, exercise/planning game |
Orion, C4016 |
Prof R. Creamer, (S. Mantel) |
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12.30 - 13.30 |
Lunch |
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13.30 - 15.00 |
Strategies for soil conservation and optimization of soil functions |
Lecture Orion, C4016 |
Godert van Lynden, Zhanguo Bai |
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15.00 - 15.30 |
Coffee break |
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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, 15 May 2020): World soil databases
|
Block |
Topic |
Type / room |
Lecturer |
|
9.00 - 10.00 |
World Soil Information Service |
Demonstration, Gaia 2 |
E. Ribeiro |
|
10.00 - 10.30 |
Coffee break |
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10.30 - 12.30 |
Applying the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) |
Exercise, WSM |
S. Mantel, N. Batjes, J. Leenaars |
|
12.30 - 13.30 |
Lunch |
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13.30 - 14.30 |
Course evaluation, certificates |
PC8045 (Orion) |
All |
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14.30 - 15.30 |
Valuing the soil resource |
Guest lecture, Gaia 1 |
D. Rossiter |
|
15.30 - 16.00 |
Closing words |
Gaia 1 |
Rik van den Bosch |