UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Environmental researchers from around the world are expected to gather for the first International Conference on Hydropedology, July 28-31 at the Life Sciences Building on Penn State’s University Park campus.
The conference theme, “Water and Soil: Key to Sustaining the Earth’s Critical Zone,” reflects the emerging interdisciplinary science of hydropedology and its potential to address the fundamental role water and soil resources play in sustaining the global environment and human prosperity, says conference chair Henry Lin, associate professor of hydropedology and soil hydrology in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
“Hydropedology embraces systems-based thinking and promotes collaborations among researchers in soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, geology, ecology and other bioscience and geoscience communities,” Lin says. “This is the first international conference looking to analyze what has been accomplished in the field, see where the gaps are and determine how hydropedology can best deliver unique and concrete contributions to soil and water sciences.”
Researchers define the “critical zone” as that part of the Earth from the top of vegetation to the bottom of the aquifer, upon which nearly all life-sustaining resources and all human activity depend. This concept facilitates the integrated studies of water with soil, rock, air and biotic resources, and the U.S. National Research Council has identified the study of that region as one of the century’s most compelling research areas.
Conference sessions will address: • Emerging concepts and theories in soil science, hydrology and related disciplines • Frontiers of integrated and multi-scale models of soils and hydrologic systems • Advanced monitoring, sensing, mapping and visualization of the subsurface • Integrated studies of the Earth’s critical zone and its relations to hydropedology • Cutting-edge applications and innovative education/outreach related to hydropedology
Researchers involved in studying hydropedology, soil science, hydrology, geomorphology and other related sciences are encouraged to submit an abstract to the conference online at http://hydropedology.psu.edu/.
Online registration is available on the Web at http://conferences.cas.psu.edu/. The registration fee is $425 if received before May 1 ($500 after), and includes presentations and discussions, daily food service and a banquet on Monday evening. Conference participants will receive a program CD and abstract book and admission to poster sessions highlighting research in hydropedology and critical zone science.
An optional field trip to local watersheds including the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory, one of three critical zone observatories funded by the National Science Foundation, is available for $80 (including transportation, a boxed lunch and a field guidebook).
Walk-in registrations will be accepted only as space allows. For more information about the conference abstracts, contact Lin at 814-865-6726 or by e-mail at henrylin@psu.edu, or visit the Web at http://hydropedology.psu.edu/. For more information about registration, call 814-865-8301, e-mail Melissa Maurer at melissa@psu.edu or visit the Web at http://conferences.cas.psu.edu .
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EDITORS: Contact Henry Lin at 814-865-6726, or by e-mail at henrylin@psu.edu.
Writer-Editor: Gary Abdullah 814-863-2708 gxa2@psu.edu