IUSS Alert - 30 (October 2007)
Information for and from the global soil science community
Heavy metals in European soils
New maps are online that show estimated total heavy metal concentrations of eight metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead and zinc) using 1588 geo-referenced topsoil samples from the European geochemical database. The concentrations were interpolated using block regression-kriging. Nice feature: The maps can be viewed in Google earth. See: http://eusoils.jrc.it/foregshmc/
El futuro de la ciencia del suelo
The IUSS book 'The Future of Soil Science' has been translated in Spanish by Dr. Miguel Angel Segura Castruita, Professor of Soil Science at the Instituto Tecnologico de Torreon in Mexico. The book contains the views from 55 soil scientists in 28 countries and is a palette of opinions and views reflecting great diversity but also several commonalities. The English and Spanish version can be freely downloaded from the IUSS website - see www.iuss.org
Soil Science Meetings
European Geosciences Union Conference
Vienna, April 13-18, 2008
1. Soil erosion and degradation on Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Convened by Artemi Cerda, J. Hooke, H. Lavee, L. Montanarella and A. Romero Diaz.
2. Original ideas for teaching on Earth Sciences. Convened by Artemi Cerda, M. Jurgensen and A. Ceballos.
3. Soil organic matter decomposition under different climatic conditions. Convened by D. Dumroese, M. Jurgensen and Artemi Cerda.
Contact and more information http://meetings.copernicus.org/egu2005
The use of computer-aided methods in soil classification
Wageningen, February 15-18, 2008
This meeting will concentrate on the development and application of computer-aided methods in soil classification - with the aim of progress towards more-objective systems of classification. We welcome all soil scientists, soil geographers, soil surveyors, soil statisticians, and spatial analysts. Voluntary papers are requested; abstracts not exceeding 250 words should be submitted before 15 December 2007. Contact:
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