_{Credit: Antonio Jordán (Source)}

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the September newsletter of the EGU Soil System Sciences Division! This month, we invite you to learn more about the workshop “Unearth Your Potential: Stakeholder Engagement and Soil Literacy”, have a look back at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, read a new SOIL paper, and learn more about the SSS Division through our Linkedin and Bluesky pages. Moreover, we also have some reminders to attend the World Food Forum Flagship Event, the NetworkNature Week 2026, and apply to be one of the Artists in Residence for EGU27.

Heike Knicker, Division President

Beatrice Giannetta, Perrine Florent, ECS Reps

Diana Vieira, Fatima Meite

The ECS Team

What recently happened on Soil System Sciences?

On 13 August 2026 was held online the workshop Unearth Your Potential: Stakeholder Engagement and Soil Literacy. It aimed to explore how community-identified soil challenges can be developed into research questions and collaborative research projects. Participants discovered resources and practices supporting engagement with citizen science and community-engaged soil research and education, began to develop a research question from a real-world soil issue using a community-engaged research approach, and more. A recording is available online.

Get Information Here

From 17 to 28 August 2026 was held in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17). Convened under the theme “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.”, Parties reviewed progress and discussed enhancing efforts to address desertification, land degradation and drought, participation of civil society and the private sector in the work of the Convention, and more. COP17 followed with thematic days on advanced proactive drought risk management and strengthening cooperation, or connecting soil restoration to food security, agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of farming communities.

Learn More Here

Discover: “Post-disturbance soil monitoring in forests using remote sensing: an evidence map” by Maisy Roach-Krajewski, Xavier Giroux-Bougard, David Paré, Catlan Dallaire, Luc Guindon, Florian Jordan, Charlotte Norris, Kara Webster, and Jérôme Laganière. This study reviews how remote sensing is used to monitor forest soil degradation after disturbance. It shows that remote sensing works best when wildfire or harvesting create visible surface change, while monitoring subsurface soil degradation still requires field measurement. Satellite data support large‑scale screening, and laser scanning and photogrammetry detect localized machinery impacts.

Read The Full Article

In addition, you can now read interesting updates of the Soil System Sciences Division and related topics on LinkedIn and Bluesky pages.

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Upcoming Events and Deadlines  

The 2026 World Food Forum (WFF) Flagship Event will be held from 8 to 16 October 2026 in Rome (Italy) and online. This event aims to transform agrifood systems through the Global Youth, Hand-in-Hand Investment, and Science and Innovation three forums. With key themes comprising “Accelerate innovations to achieve food security for all”, “Implementing One Health in agrifood systems”, and “Explore new models for financing agricultural research and innovation”. High-level dialogues, consultations, innovation labs, interactive pitching events, hackathons, matchmaking meetings, exhibitions and cultural showcases will be proposed to participants.

Register Here

Climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are steadily increasing the risk and vulnerability to disasters like floods, forest fires and droughts, undermining the possibility of a stable future. Nature-based solutions have known potential to build solid foundations for resilience and a thriving future. Part of the Nature-based Solution International Congress, the NetworkNature Week 2026 will be held in Paris (France) from 2 to 5 November 2026. In this week gathering researchers, national and European representatives, policymakers and more, will be explored how public authorities can shape and drive a resilient future for people and nature through knowledge and action.

Know More Here

Two science-artists will be hosted at the next General Assembly of EGU (4-9 April 2027 in Vienna, Austria). Artists from any creative field interested by the opportunity to interact with researchers in Earth planetary and space sciences, and examine their own work through a new perspective are invited to apply. This week-long residency will involve creating new artworks inspired by the research or researchers of EGU27, and presenting their work and how their creative format can be used to communicate science. The artists will be provided with financial support to cover their materials, transport, accommodation costs and event registration. Apply online by 28 October 2026!

Apply Here