Nearly 170 academics from across Canada made their way to Trent University June 10-14 to showcase their research at the annual Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS) conference.

As leaders in environmental research, Trent University and the Trent School of the Environment were the perfect hosts for the four-day event, which welcomed plenary speakers, Dr. Greg Lawrence with the United States Geological Survey and Dr. Keith Schilling, a research scientist with the Iowa Geological Survey. The conference also featured workshops, tours, oral presentations, poster sessions and an awards ceremony in the Great Hall.

“The TSE was thrilled to host such a prestigious event that welcomed scientists from around Canada and the world,” said Dr. Shaun Watmough, director of the School of Environment at Trent.  “Understanding the functions and processes of soil is at the core of many of our degree offerings, be it Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, Geography or Indigenous Environmental Studies. This conference showcased state-of-the-art research, including work from several Trent faculty and students, which is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of soils in a range of ecosystems, worldwide.”

“This conference brought together the physical, chemical and biological aspects of soil science research,” explained Kristen Grant, a graduate student from the University of Waterloo and attendee. “In addition, social perceptions of soil and new approaches to teaching soil science were also highlighted. This was the first conference I was able to present some of my own research at and it allowed me to have some great conversations and discussions about agricultural soils at the poster session.”

“It was a wonderful experience to attend the 2017 CSSS conference in the vibrant city of Peterborough,” said Duminda Vidana Gamage, another attendee of the conference who won the award for ‘Best Poster Presentation’ for her research on High Resolution Soil Moisture Monitoring Using Active Heat Pulse Method with Fiber Optic Temperature Sensing. “I thoroughly enjoyed my short time at Trent University. It was more than just an impressive setting, it provided me with a great space for meeting people.”

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs also showcased Trent’s Market Garden and Experimental Farm during the conference in a pedogocial and soil mapping tour that highlighted local soils and innovative agricultural practices within the county of Peterborough.