Organised by Simbios in partnership with Metris

Dundee, 16th - 17th of September 2009

There is increasing evidence that knowledge of the micro-environment of soils holds the key to a more precise prediction of soil ecosystem functioning. Current advances in techniques in physical (e.g. X-ray CT), chemical (e.g. micro-focus XRF or NANO-SIMS) and microbiological (e.g. FISH) sciences have significantly enhanced our ability to quantify the soils at increasingly smaller scales. The development of these modern techniques has evolved however within separate disciplines. This hampers a holistic approach to the soil system which requires a full integration of physical, biological and chemical methodologies. Perhaps more important, opportunities to apply these techniques simultaneously or combine them with the help of mathematical modelling and statistical techniques are being overlooked. The aim of this workshop is to bring together current leaders in the field of modern physical, microbiological and chemical techniques that can quantify the soil micro-environment, together with modellers and statisticians to:

(i) present the current state of quantitative techniques and sampling strategies for the soil microenvironment,

(ii) identify the opportunities and innovations required to ensure a better integration of these techniques

For further information, please contact Dr. Wilfred Otten.

Download first circular PDF.
Please register via Workshop registration form.

Speakers are invited on the following topics:

- Micro-CT/micro-XRF for 3D analysis of chemical composition,
Dr. P. Bruyndonckx, Skyscan, Belgium,
- X-ray micro-tomography of soils,
Dr. A. Ramsey, Metris X-TEK, UK,
- Atomic Force Microscopy for surface topography and bacterial attachment,
Dr. C. Wright, Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre, Swansea University, UK,
- Application of laser ablation to soils research,
Prof. T. Fallick, SUERC, UK,
- Measuring structural connectivity in soil with neutron tomography,
Dr. P. Lehmann, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland,
- Advances in microbiological techniques, t.b.c.
- Detection of microorganisms in soil using FISH and CARD FISH,
Dr. T. Eickhorst, Institute of Soil Science, University of Bremen, Germany,
- Sampling bacteria at microhabitat scale,
Dr. P. Hirsch, Rothamsted Research, UK,
- Integrating techniques: LB simulation of biofilm growth in porous media,
Dr. M. Johns, Cambridge University, UK,
- Integrating techniques: Statistics and spatial heterogeneity,
Prof. M. Lark, Rothamsted Research, UK,
- Integrating techniques: Modelling fungal community dynamics in heterogeneous soil,
Dr. R. Falconer, SIMBIOS, University of Abertay Dundee, UK.