image: "Science to Advance Soil Health and Future Directions" workshop, Gainesville, Florida.
Credit: MDPI
Event Details
- Date: December 4, 2026
- Time: 8:30 am–5:00 pm EST
- Location: Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA
- Registration: Required; register for free here
Researchers, students, and professionals working in soil science, environmental science, agriculture, and related fields will gather in Gainesville, Florida, on December 4, 2026, for the MDPI workshop “Science to Advance Soil Health and Future Directions.”
The one-day workshop will take place at the Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center at the University of Florida. The event will provide an interdisciplinary forum to exchange knowledge, discuss advances in soil health research, and explore new opportunities for collaboration across various fields. Participation in this event is free of charge; however, registration is required.
The workshop will be chaired by Dr. Sunny Liao and Dr. Gabriel Maltais-Landry, both from the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Florida. The event will bring together scholars from different disciplines to examine current approaches to soil health assessment and management, the role of soil in supporting ecosystem services, and emerging technologies shaping the future of soil science.
Areas of interest will include:
- Accessing and Integrating Three Dimensions (Indicators) of Soil Health;
- Soil Management and Ecosystem Services;
- Advanced Technologies, Tools, and Future Perspectives.
Through these themes, the workshop aims to encourage interdisciplinary knowledge exchange and further support the development of more integrated approaches to understanding, assessing, and managing soil health.
Workshop Chairs
Dr. Sunny Liao is an Associate Professor affiliated with the Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Florida. Her research includes applying integrated metaomics to visualize the role that soil microbiomes play in nutrient cycling, plant fitness, and (natural/agro-) ecosystem processes.
Dr. Gabriel Maltais-Landry is also an Associate Professor with the Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Florida. His work focuses on the interaction between soils and crops to maximize crop productivity, optimize nutrient availability, and minimize environmental impacts.
The workshop welcomes members of academic and research communities interested in advancing soil health science, sustainable soil management, and related areas of environmental and agricultural research.
Poster Competition
The workshop will also feature a poster competition, offering students and early career researchers an opportunity to present their research and receive feedback from fellow researchers and experts in the field. The competition will provide a platform to showcase emerging work, while encouraging scientific exchange and networking among participants.
To participate in the poster competition, please follow this link to register.