Conference Circuit: Soil Science

Thousands of scientists, researchers, practitioners, educators, and students are headed to San Diego in the next few days to learn about the latest research, product development, and industry advances relating to the agricultural sciences.

Organization: Soil Science Society of America

Conference: 2019 International Soils Meeting

Venue: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina

City: San Diego

The SSSA International Soils Meeting  (opens in a new tab) begins on Sunday evening with an opening keynote featuring Tom Vilsack. The former U.S. secretary of agriculture and current president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council will discuss climate-smart agriculture that’s good for both the farm and the land. Also on the agenda:

Cheers! While oenophiles will already know how soil affects wine, attendees who don’t can sign up for a wine-tasting event where vintners from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. will discuss the connections among soils, grapes, and wine from a wide range of grape-growing environments.

Student competition. SSSA’s inaugural student competition will give the next generation of agricultural professionals the opportunity to showcase their work to the broader soils community. In the tournament-style event, top winners from each division will go on to compete in head-to-head, five-minute oral and poster sessions. Top prize is $1,000.

Advocacy action. To keep federal funding for research, soil scientists must become increasingly skilled at engaging with policymakers. During the “Science Not Silence” advocacy workshop, participants will learn how the federal budget affects the research they do, the best ways for them to engage in advocacy, and how to effectively communicate with policymakers.

Head to Twitter  (opens in a new tab) (#sssamtg  (opens in a new tab)) and Facebook  (opens in a new tab) for other meeting details.

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