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 Welcome
to the British Society of Soil Science
The Society
was founded in 1947 to advance the study of soil. It does
his through the promotion of research and education. Soil
is a very precious resource that has a range of functions.
These include support for plants, ecosystem biodiversity,
and growing medium for crops. Soils interact with the wider
environment, acting as a store and filter for water. Soils
support many human activities, and preserve evidence of
our cultural heritage.
The Society promotes research by organising
several conferences each year and by the publication of
its two scientific journals, the European
Journal of Soil Science, and Soil
Use and Management. It promotes education through a number
of initiatives aimed at schools, colleges and universities. The Society has a regular and varied programme
of scientific conferences on a wide range of soil-related
issues. Find out more about future
conferences. Membership details can be obtained from the
Society Administrator, Dr
Jim Gauld. For further information about the work of
the Society, please contact the Society Secretary,
Dr Rob Parkinson.
Latest News
The Society's response to the Soil Strategy (see below)
Defra are currently consulting on their Soil Strategy
Scottish Soil Framework consultation was launched on30 June 2008.
Deadline for response 22 September 2008. Further details.
Soil Framework Directive update - At the meeting organised by DG environment on 12th June in Brussels "Climate change - can soil make a difference?", the French minister for environment Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet announced that the disucssion on the proposed Soil Framework Directive will be put on agenda of the French presidency in the second semester, 2008. This destroys the blocking minority achieved in Dec 2007, and a new compromise document will be discussed in working groups.
The IUSS Election results are now available
Something old, something new: integrating molecular biology with other techniques in soil science
Provisional programme for our September conference at Rothamsted
And it might see a long way off, but if you feel like a visit to the Emerald Isle in September 2009 for the joint BSSS/SSSI conference, check out this advance information.
The BSSS, together with a group of other professional organisations, recently wrote to the Secretary of State at Defra, Hilary Benn, to seek a meeting in order to discuss renewed steps towards an EU Soil Directive, which the Council of Ministers failed to adopt in December 2007. The letter to Hilary Benn and the proposal, together with his response (Page 1, Page 2) can be accessed here.
Have you updated your e-mail address yet ? If not please login to the Membership page.
Environment Agency have launched their Soil Strategy. Entitled ‘Soil: a precious resource', this strategy is aimed at protecting, managing and restoring soil. The strategy highlights the EA's priorities for soil and planned actions.
BSSS members can now access our two journals, European Journal of Soil Science and
Soil Use & Management in electronic form, direct from Blackwell Science.
To access these journals electronically, logon on via the Membership page.
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