Life in the Soil: does it matter?

Soil has been described as the “poor person’s tropical rain forest”.  Walking through a woodland or a meadow, there are hundreds and possibly thousands of species beneath our feet, but what are they all doing and why are there so many?  This event will focus on the vital roles which these organisms play -  in maintaining the soil’s fertility, the ecosystems services which they perform, the possibility of new pharmaceutical products, and the problems associated with disease transmission. Soil ecosystems are rich, diverse and vital to life and society.

Speakers will include Professor Colin Campbell, Director of Science Excellence and interim Chief Executive, James Hutton Institute; Professor Richard Bardgett, Professor of Ecology, University of Manchester; and Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Scientific Director of the Moredun Research Institute. The panel discussion will be chaired by Susan Davies, Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

Besides the James Hutton Institute, the event is also supported by the Moredun Research Institute, the Strategic Research Programme and Scottish Natural Heritage.

You can also vote for your favorite soil organism - results will be announced on the night. For details on how to attend, visit the event page at the RSE website.