The Centennial Celebration and Congress of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) was held in Florence, Italy, in late May.

The Celebration included a two-day congress, alongside 12 plenary sessions and 94 parallel scientific sessions focusing on achievements made in the field of soil science and its future challenges. Furthermore, five scientific excursions were arranged for attendees, spanning from the Alps to Sicily.

More than 1,400 soil scientists in 70 countries, including nearly 200 Chinese representatives, gathered in Italy to witness the IUSS's widely recognized contribution to the nature and human well-being.

Group photo of some Chinese attendees (©SSSC)

As the host of the World Congress of Soil Science 2026 (WCSS 2026), the Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) adorned its promotional booth with gadgets featuring Chinese elements such as panda toys, paper pendants with blue-and-white porcelain paintings and Peking opera masks, among others, in an effort to promote the event while showcasing Chinese culture. The delicately decorated booth attracted a slew of overseas scholars eager to exchange views with the SSSC representatives. Many of them expressed their willingness to attend the WCSS 2026 in Nanjing.

The WCSS 2026 aims to provide a platform for world soil scientists to exchange their ideas, discoveries and visions in soil science, and explore China's rich soil resources.

Source: Official website of the SSSC