Soil: Sustaining Life on Planet Earth

July 18, 2008, 8:30 am – 12 noon
Lecture Room, National Academy of Sciences
2100 C Street NW, Washington, DC

The U.S. National Committee for Soil Science is sponsoring a symposium entitled "Soil: Sustaining Life on Planet Earth" to be held in conjunction with the opening of the soils exhibit (“Dig It! The Secrets of Soil”) at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. The symposium is co-sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America and the International Union of Soil Science. The symposium also represents an activity celebrating the United Nations-designated International Year of the Planet Earth.

The topics covered in this symposium will include the role of soil in the rise and fall of civilizations, anthropogenic influences on the global soil resource, the importance of soils for ecosystem function and critical ecosystem services (in both natural and agro-ecosystems) and in sustaining life on Earth. Speakers include the internationally recognized experts:

- Dr. David Montgomery, a soil geomorphologist from the University of Washington and author of the book "Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations";

- Dr. Daniel Richter, a soil biogeochemist from Duke University who has examined soil nutrient cycles and man’s influence on soil over time;

- Dr. Diana Wall, a soil ecologist from Colorado State University who explores how soil biodiversity contributes to healthy, productive soils and the consequences of human activities on soil sustainability; and

- Dr. Rattan Lal, a soil scientist from The Ohio State University who studies the role of soil management practices and soil quality on agro-ecosystem function, soil carbon sequestration, and food security.

The symposium is intended for all interested scientists, as well as science press, policy analysts/developers, and the general public. This event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP to biso@nas.edu.

Directions to the building:

http://www.nationalacademies.org/about/contact/nas.html

Please note that parking is limited. The building is about 0.5 miles from the Foggy Bottom metro station (Orange or Blue line).