Soil Ecology

From global patterns to mechanisms that matter

Monday 20 - Friday 24 January 2025

Hotel de Bosrand, Ede 

Scope

Soils are crucial for life on earth and soil biodiversity is responsible for most soil-borne functions on which humans depend, including the production of food, feed, fibre and biofuels, clean air, drinking water, pathogen regulation and carbon storage. However, until recently little was known about the global patterns in soil biodiversity and how these patterns lead to the functions that soils provide. In the present course, we will explore advances in global soil biodiversity assessments and what these mean for the mechanistic understanding of the ecological patterns and processes in natural and man-made (including agricultural) ecosystems. We will discuss how these novel insights will enhance understanding how nature works. Ultimately, the impact of this new knowledge is meant to lead to a more sustainable human society and we will particularly address the question how current and future soil ecologists may enhance their individual and collective impact. This is the theme for the 9th edition of the international PhD course on Soil Ecology.

Course set-up

The course is composed of a series of lectures, subsequent discussions, working group activities and poster sessions. The course will start on Monday in the afternoon (12 PM) with lunch, an introduction and a keynote lecture, a poster carrousel as well as dinner. The course will run till Friday afternoon. 

Preliminary programme

Speakers and organisers

• Richard Bardgett (Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, United Kingdom)
• Stephanie Kivlin (University of Tennessee, United States of America)
• Zoë Lindo (Western University, Canada)
• Carlos Guerra (University of Coimbra, Portugal)
• Stefan Geisen (Wageningen University, The Netherlands)
• Wim van der Putten (Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, The Netherlands)
• Gerlinde De Deyn (Soil Biology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands)
• Franciska de Vries (Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
• Gilian van Duijvendijk (Graduate School PE&RC, Wageningen University, The Netherlands)
• Claudius van de Vijver (Graduate School PE&RC, Wageningen University, The Netherlands)

General information

Fees ¹

¹ The course fee includes accommodation, all meals, coffee/tea and course materials. It does not include beverages in the bar.
² The Early-Bird Fee applies to anyone who REGISTERS ON OR BEFORE 20 November 2024

Note:

• The Early-Bird policy is such that the moment of REGISTRATION (and not payment) is leading for determining the fee that applies to you.
• Please make sure that your payment is arranged within two weeks after your registration or after receiving the invoice. Arrange your payment immediately if you register two weeks or less before the start of the course. 
• It is the participant's responsibility to make sure that the payment correctly and in time.

 PE&RC Cancellation Conditions

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS read the Cancellation conditions for PE&RC courses and activities.

Note: If you would like to cancel your registration, ALWAYS inform us. By NOT paying the participation fee, your registration is NOT automatically cancelled (and do note that you will be kept to the cancellation conditions)

More information

Gilian van Duijvendijk (PE&RC)
Email: gilian.vanduijvendijk@wur.nl

Registration

To register, please enter your details below and click "Register".