We need your help. You may have noticed that some of our imagery is starting to get out of date and we want to highlight the amazing work from our members. As we approach our 80th anniversary and are also close to reaching 1000 members, we want to mark this milestone by featuring your photos to showcase the new developments and people at the forefront of soil science.

So we are pleased to be launching a photo competition and want to see your amazing shots from the workplace! Whether it鈥檚 in the field, in the lab, on a training course, with new cutting-edge equipment, team photos. creative setups, or just everyday work life 鈥� submit your best photo for a chance to be featured. We are particularly keen to showcase recent innovations and state-of-the-art approaches, such as microscopy, new instruments in action, and sophisticated field monitoring.

We plan to categorise images under some general themes (which are used for our conference abstracts) so bear this in mind when entering:

• Soils for Life
• Soils for Climate
• Soils for Water
• Soils for the Digital Age
• Soils for People

There will be an overall winner which will be decided by the BSSS Executive and Presidential Team, however we plan to feature as many photos as possible to put our members front and centre of our marketing.

The winner will receive an exclusive pack of goodies.

See more details about how to enter below!

Please Note:

• This competition is predominantly for BSSS members however submissions from non-members will also be accepted.
• You can submit up to 5 photos. Please provide a description of the photo(s) in the relevant field.
• The competition will be open from聽Friday 29 May 2026 to Friday 25 September 2026.
• To submit via the form linked below, you will have to login to/create a Google account
• The winner will receive a prize and will be featured in Society marketing and publications.
• Photographs must not have been taken more than ten years prior to the competition opening date of Friday 29 May 2026.
• The Photography Competition is free to enter and no purchase is necessary.
• Images must not be false-coloured. The images submitted must be taken with a camera. Images generated by Artificial Intelligence cannot be considered. The use of Artificial Intelligence in manipulating photos is also disallowed. Rules regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence are subject to change at short notice and without notification.
• We will collect personal data including your name and email address as part of the competition. Please see full privacy policy and use of images disclaimer in the form. Please ensure that any participants or subjects that are identifiable in the photo(s) have provided consent for the photo(s) to be used.
• By completing the form, you confirm that the information that you have provided is accurate.

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Useful Information

Abstracts will only be considered if they meet the following criteria:

• Length: Maximum of 300 words
• Keywords: Add up to 10 descriptive 鈥榮earch鈥� keywords
• Lead author鈥檚 organisation and email details must be included

Submissions

You can submit more than 1 abstract if you wish. If you are currently working on your project and will be collecting results later in the year, you can still submit now and have the chance to amend your presentation closer to the conference if it is selected. You do not have to be a BSSS member to submit. We encourage submissions from related disciplines as well as soil science.聽

Oral abstract submissions will be open until聽Monday 31 August.

Poster聽abstract submissions will be open until Friday 23 October.

The 快猫短视频 2026 Annual Conference will take place from Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 December in Aberdeen. The overall conference theme is Soils at the Centre of Change: Innovation, Adaptation and Action. The packed multi-disciplinary event spanning the built, natural environment and agricultural sectors, set at the University of Aberdeen, will provide delegates with a fantastic opportunity to see the latest research and developments within soil science. The exciting and diverse programme will feature keynote speakers and experts across the 2 days.

Programme

The exciting and diverse programme will feature keynote speakers and experts across the 2 days. This will include a policy session, discussion panel sessions, an invited keynote, oral presentations and posters across the 5 themes, quickfire presentations, parallel CPD sessions, an art and culture exhibition, and scientific tours on the final day. We will also be holding a Gala Dinner and Awards Evening on the first night of the Annual Conference.聽

The conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and industry leaders to examine how soil science can drive practical solutions to some of the most pressing environmental, societal, and policy challenges we face today.

With growing global attention on climate resilience, land use, food security, and nature recovery, soils are increasingly recognised as fundamental to sustainable systems. This event will provide a platform to discuss innovation, adaptation, and action across research, policy, and practice, with a particular focus on:

• The role of soils in climate mitigation and adaptation
• Soil鈥搘ater interactions, flood resilience, and water quality
• Digital technologies and data-driven approaches in soil science
• The contribution of soils to ecosystems, livelihoods, and human wellbeing
• Translating soil science into effective policy and on-the-ground action

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Meet the team:

Jay Ryan (coach) – I am a senior soil scientist at ADAS, part of RSK, where I work in soil classification and environmental impact assessments. Prior to moving to the UK, I studied at the University of Adelaide, where I completed my research degree in soil carbon dynamics and a Bachelor of Science with a double major in soil science and ecology. I also hold a Master鈥檚 degree in environmental economics and policy, which has helped me provide a broader context for environmental science within my role. I have participated in soil judging competitions in both Australia and Scotland and am currently chairing the British Soil Judging Working Group, while also contributing to the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) Soil Judging Working Group, both of which are aiming to develop a strong platform for soil description and classification skills with Britain and internationally.

Jessica Brook – I am in the final year of my PhD at the University of Aberdeen, and I have a strong interest in soil management and soil health. My research focuses on water quality risks from soil structural degradation in Scotland and it includes a broadscale study, sampling across almost 400 agricultural sites. I come from a farming background and have also completed an MSc in Soil Science.

Theodore Heaton-Davies – I’m Theodore Heaton-Davies. I’m in my first year of a PhD in Ecology and Agri-Environmental Research at the University of Reading. My project is on enhancing above and below ground ecosystem services through regenerative farming as a means to reduce reliance on chemical fertiliser. I’m especially interested in cycling different organic wastes back to farms and the impact of that on measures of soil health. As part of my PhD I’m currently聽undertaking a placement at ADAS where I’m based in the entomology team.

Thomas Smith – Thomas is an agricultural systems engineer and a second-year PhD researcher at Cranfield University, UK. His professional background includes work with Tesco, Syngenta, and Amazon, as well as serving as a logistics officer in the British Army. Thomas鈥檚 research focuses on reducing the emissions footprint of tea production through a combination of field experiments in Kenya, plus empirical and process-based modelling. Specifically, he is working to understand the relationship between fertilizer application and greenhouse gas emissions by examining complex interactions within carbon and nitrogen cycles. Ultimately the goal of the research is to optimise fertilizer use efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. His doctoral work is supported by Lipton Teas and Infusions and the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Cairo Robb –聽 I am a soils enthusiast, with a range of affiliations, who enjoys acting as a bridge between science and policy, policy and practice, and between disciplines, with the aim to increase society鈥檚 engagement with soils in decision making. I have a particular interest in the role that urban soils and their biodiversity can play in increasing people鈥檚 sense of connection to soils and soil biodiversity more broadly. By this, I mean all the local and global soils and soil organisms that we depend upon – and impact upon – through the supply chains we engage with in our everyday work and personal lives. I am studying part-time for my Master of Horticulture (MHort) qualification with the Royal Horticultural Society, and have completed the first two years of this three-year course. In recent years I also completed an MSc in Soils and Sustainability, and my background is in international environmental law and policy. Currently I am a soil health policy researcher in the Department of Engineering at Durham University. In addition, I work part-time in the Gardens Department of Magdalene College, Cambridge, which inspired my enrolment in the MHort. I am also the founder of the Collaboration for Interdisciplinary Sustainable Soils Project (CISS Project) CIC, a community interest company dedicated to raising awareness about soils and their biodiversity, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration for sustainable soils. I am delighted and extremely grateful to everyone involved for this amazing opportunity to learn and gain an in depth understanding of soil description using the World Reference Base, and to take part in the 5th聽International Soil Judging Contest!

The World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS), organised by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), is the leading global gathering for soil scientists and practitioners, held every four years since 1927. Bringing together thousands of delegates from across the world. The upcoming 23rd Congress in 2026 is taking place in Nanjing with the theme 鈥淪oil and the Shared Future for Humanity,鈥� highlighting the critical role soils play in sustainable development and future generations. To read more about the WCSS from the President Elect of IUSS click here.

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Every five years the UK government is legally mandated to publish a The an independent group established under the , is expected to publish the fourth national climate risk report in 2026 and present it to Parliament in early 2027.

These national climate change reports can raise public awareness about climate risks, including to the country鈥檚 ecosystems. We used the third national climate risk assessment, released in January 2022, to study media attention to climate risks in the UK mainstream press.

The third listed 鈥渞isks to soil health from increased flooding and drought鈥� as one of eight priority climate risks facing the country. The report also stated that a new Soil Structure Measuring and Monitoring Scheme was being developed, but as of this writing, the healthy soils scheme is .

Climate change is most likely to make it onto the public鈥檚 agenda when political events, such as the annual COPs for climate change, or extreme weather events happen. Even then, breaking through the noise is hard. into media coverage of the July 2022 extreme heat, when temperatures topped 40掳C for the first time in recorded history, showed that only 36% of press reports about the heatwave mentioned climate change.

Degrading soil health is rarely featured in UK media reporting. Instead, it tends to be 鈥渃onfined to academic papers, local news reports, and reports by consultants,鈥� geomorphologist John Boardman.

Media Attention to Soil Health is Low

In of soil health discussion in the UK press following publication of the 2022 climate risk assessment, assuming the report to parliament might trigger some media attention to priority climate risks areas, we set out to examine the amount of coverage about degrading soil health due to climate change. In other words, media salience. In doing so, we sought to answer the question of how this issue is represented in the text of news reports and visually.

What we found is a stark lack of media reporting on soil health. Over two full years following the report鈥檚 publication we identified only 42 articles 鈥� across more than a hundred UK newspapers, including all widely-read national ones 鈥� that specifically covered climate-induced risks to the country鈥檚 soil health from increased flooding and drought.

revealed that:

• Press reports emphasized themes of either habitat/biodiversity loss or food insecurity.
• The root causes of the accelerating climate crisis were not discussed in the coverage. Instead, the overarching narrative was one about the inevitability of climate change. Basically, mainstream news supported the idea that there is no stopping climate change so the thing to do is to adapt to the consequences coming our way.
• Policymakers, both in writing and visually, were conspicuously absent from the observed news discourse. This implied that the needed adaptation efforts are the remit of individuals, communities, and industry alliances.
• Generic, stock-like photos made up the majority of the news images. Exchangeable photographs of agricultural activities or supermarket aisles were more prominent than pictures of people or wildlife. This rendered the issue as rather dull and abstract.

When mainstream news fails to pay attention to soil health, the public鈥檚 ability to recognize and act on the risks climate change poses to ecosystems and food security is severely compromised.

How to Improve Soil Health Media Coverage

Here we share some ideas of what could be done to improve media representations of soil health, from the most to the least feasible interventions.

First, soil scientists could try to make public engagement with their research findings a larger aspect of their work. In fact, the British public about scientific topics. Soil scientists can be trusted messengers to communicate the already of deteriorating soil health and the to government and politicians, agriculture-adjacent industry actors (food supply, retail, hospitality, agritech), and local communities.

To be sure, translating complex scientific facts to lay audiences is never easy. But as soil scientists, you are working in a discipline closely tied to the prospects for humanity鈥檚 future on this planet. Who better than you to sound the alarm bells 鈥� loudly and incessantly. If you are affiliated with a university, check to see if your institution offers media training. Training and tips are also available from the and the , among others.

We also recommend that risks to soil health are incorporated more consistently into environmental and science communication . If you are personally looking for a place to start, the Association of British Science Writers has complied a listing of in the UK. Other useful resources can be found from , , and the , of which Jill is a board member.

Finally, and at present most unrealistically, the (news) media system needs to pivot away from a for-profit bottom line. Shrinking newsrooms, along with increasingly precarious working conditions, news production driven by audience data metrics, and uncritical usage of artificial intelligence applications are anathema to a journalism industry that would have the resources and capabilities to more fully report on the connections between climate change and soil health.

The study has been published in The Geographical Journal. To view the full study,聽.

[Cover Image –聽” by聽Scottish Government聽is licensed under聽]

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Elemtex Ltd. manufacture and sell consumables for elemental analysers. They also sell consumables and spare parts’ for EA-IRMS systems. They ship globally from their headquarters in Cornwall UK.

We are delighted to be a corporate member of the BSSS network enabling us to offer high quality Elemtex products to support the research and analysis of all soil laboratories involved.

 

Ken Neal, Director at Elemtex

To learn more about their work visit:

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Honorary Membership cannot be requested by an individual; they must be nominated for the award. We expect the proposer to notify the nominee in advance that they are submitting the nomination.

Honorary Membership nominations will be reviewed by the Grants & Awards Committee in May and a maximum of two nominees will be proposed to BSSS Council. Following Council鈥檚 decision, members of the Society must vote on the proposal at the next General Meeting in July.

Both the nominator and the nominee will be notified of the outcome: either unsuccessful or the nominee being proposed to the next General Meeting.

If you would like to nominate an Honorary Member at the next General Meeting, please complete and return the聽听迟辞听admin@soils.org.uk听产测听Thursday 30 April.

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Van Walt Ltd designs, installs, supplies & rents equipment for environmental research and monitoring in the UK, Ireland, Spain, New Zealand and South Africa. With over 40 plus years of experience within the environmental monitoring industry, their team is armed with decades of knowledge, experience on site, and technical and hands on experience with the equipment they offer.

Van Walt has over four decades of experience with supplying soil sampling solutions. Our attendance at the Manchester BSSS conference was an affirmation of how dedicated and passionate this organisation and others are towards the future of soil science. We were especially pleased to see the volume of activity and dedication that the BSSS provides within the industry, and Van Walt are very proud to have become a corporate member. With our collaboration, we hope to continue to inspire future generations.

 

Van Walt

To learn more about their work visit:

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Established in 2006, FGP Surveyors Limited are RICS regulated Chartered Surveyors in Rural Practice. FGP specialise in professional advice to infrastructure developers including for Cables, Carbon Capture, Pipelines, Renewable Energy and Waterways. Their professional role involves acquisitions, GIS mapping, Project Management and Valuation, as well as advising on soil management, drainage, materials management plans and reinstatement of land. FGP Surveyors pride themselves on delivering Practical, Commercially Focused Solutions and advise on protection of soils and drainage during construction of projects.

To learn more about their work visit:

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BSSS is the UK鈥檚 leading body in the area of soil science with a global reach. We strive to secure the future of soils by promoting an enhanced understanding of the critical importance of soils in delivering the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and supplying knowledge through our science to support efforts to halt and repair soil degradation. We aim to make a positive difference in the sustainable management and long-term security of soils that is critical to solving the environmental and societal challenges we face today.

During their time as President Elect, the post-holder will be expected to play an active role within the Society and shadow the current President where required.

About the role

On becoming President (1 January 2029), the post-holder will be expected to:

• lead the trustees and members of the executive in the development of strategic plans for the charity
• provide leadership and support to the Executive Director and ensure that the charity is run in accordance with the decisions of the trustees, the charity鈥檚 governing documents and appropriate legislation
• ensure the business of the Society is discussed efficiently and effectively at Council, Board and Annual General Meetings
• represent the Society at functions, meetings and in the media in line with the agreed strategy
• maintain the trustees鈥� commitment to board renewal and succession planning, in line with best practice.

The applicant must be eligible to become a trustee and must be a Society member.

To see the full Job Description,

How to apply

We are accepting applications from the BSSS membership now and look forward to finding out who the next BSSS President Elect will be.

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter to admin@soils.org.uk

Deadline for applications: Friday 27 March 2026

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A Rich Programme

At our Annual Conference, we were delighted to welcome 200 delegates, building on our record total from the previous year. As you can see, it was a very rich and diverse programme which included an impact session, 4 discussion panel sessions, 2 keynotes, 28 oral presentations across 5 themes, 7 quickfire presentations, 60 posters with 3 poster sessions, 11 parallel sessions, an art and culture exhibition, the Soiols Use and Management anniversary networking event, 2 scientific and 1 cultural tour, and our EGM where we confirmed our new Early Careers Committee Chair. We also had high profile delegates and speakers such as Tony Juniper CBE (Chair of Natural England), Prof. Pete Smith (delivering the invited talk) and Dr. Nils Broothaerts (from the European Commission).

Integrated Perspectives

The Society is committed to the study of soil in its widest aspects and brings together those in academia, in industry, and all those working with, or with an interest in soils. The conference really is the embodiment of this. The five abstract themes of soils for people, soils for climate, soils for water, soils for life and advances for soils helped delegates to learn and understand more about soil in these wide aspects and allow them to take this into their own research and work. Poster sessions provided emerging researchers and practitioners the chance to share work on contemporary soil challenges, from microbial ecology to landscape-scale soil functions. The conference welcomed delegates from all over the UK and also internationally (from 4 continents), highlighting the importance and influence of the work that was on show. A popular highlight was our art and culture room that featured artworks, films, ceramics, a 鈥楽inging Compost鈥� set up and VR headsets.

Gala Dinner

At the end of the first day, we organised a Gala Dinner at Manchester Hall, where we were treated to music from musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music. We had 70 delegates at the event which featured a drinks reception and then a 3 course meal in the Goulbourne Suite, intertwined with Christmas and Manchester-themed music. We welcomed three guest speakers, all from our art and culture room. Daro Montag set the scene for the evening and explained about his work with Rothamsted and the Broadbalk archive. Later on, Karolina Trdlicova and Emma McKenna highlighted their social science projects and how scientists can engage the general public. The evening was lead by Prof. Paul Hallett and we presented our Outstanding Society Contribution Award or OSCA to Dr. Danni Robb for all her work for our Early Career members.

Scientific Tours

On Friday 4 December, we went on our scientific and cultural tours. The main scientific tour took place at Bold Moss in St Helens (part of the Mersey Forest) where delegates learnt about the soil management initiatives on the site. The tour was led by Professor John Handley, a peatland and habitat specialist, who shared his expertise on how healthy soils support biodiversity, store carbon and contribute to climate resilience. The second tour was at Manchester City Stadium where delegates got an exclusive look on the pitch from the head groundsman at the club, whilst also giving delegates a closer look at the state of the art equipment and seeing how it all works.

Outreach and Engagement

A key theme from both conferences was the social sciences element and how members can translate their science into something that the public can engage with. It was fascinating to see how art and culture could also fit into this space and was a different angle for people to consider. Prior to the conference, we were pleased to visit a local school in Manchester to provide an outreach session for Year 3 and 4 classes as part of their soils and rocks element of their curriculum. Lead by Dr. Lizzie Sagoo and Dr. Marta Cattin, we were able to engage the children by getting their hands dirty and learning about the importance of soil. The event was an opportunity to use one of our loan boxes and highlight the experiments that are featured.

Exhibitors and Sponsors

We had 3 headline sponsors, one of which was our journal, Soil Use and Management, that was celebrating their 40^th anniversary. We had 14 exhibitors, several of which also provided their own CPD parallel sessions which really enhanced our programme and was well received by the delegates. Thank you to all our partners and sponsors for supporting the event and providing further engagement for the delegates. It was great to be showcasing exclusive sessions at the conference such as the LandIS Open Access National Soils Portal Launch which was an important industry update for stakeholders and members alike.

Supporting Early Career Members

The start of the week featured an engaging Early Careers event with workshops and presentations to aid the development and learning of 100 Early Careers members. Sessions on Effective Communication, Soil Classification and Description, as well as Career Pathways in Soil Science equipped many aspiring soil academics and practitioners with the skills and advice needed to thrive in the industry.

Soils are increasingly recognised as foundational for global sustainability. With mounting policy focus on land use and soil protection, the BSSS Annual Conference provided a vital forum to share research, build partnerships, and inspire actionable solutions across sectors.

Researchers left with fresh ideas on:

• strengthening soil health monitoring,
• integrating soil data into environmental decision-making,
• and applying interdisciplinary approaches to complex soil issues.

Whether you鈥檙e a soil scientist or new to the Society, the conference reaffirmed a simple truth: healthy soils are indispensable for a resilient and sustainable future.

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