The 快猫短视频 is delighted to be entering a UK team to the 5th International Soil Judging Contest in Nanjing, which is part of the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science. Our team of four includes Jess Brooks, Theodore Heaton-Davies, Thomas Smith, and Cairo Robb, as well as Jay Ryan who is the team鈥檚 coach. They will take part in guided training sessions, helping them refine their practical skills and deepen their understanding before the competition where the team will describe key properties such as texture, structure, colour, and horizon development.
Meet the team:
Jaylie 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 Britian 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.
