U.S.-China Joint Symposium in San Antonio

The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and the Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) have been working in the last few years to strengthen our ties as we recognize that international cooperation is key to addressing many global challenges such as climate change, food security, and environmental pollution (Thompson et al., 2024). These efforts focus on joint society memberships, webinars, symposia, and publications (Soil Science Society of America, 2024). SSSA and SSSC are initiating a joint U.S.‐China annual soil science symposium series (virtual or hybrid) that will be hosted alternately by SSSA and SSSC. This year, SSSA will host the inaugural joint U.S.‐China symposium at the ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting at San Antonio, TX from Nov. 10–13, 2024.

The theme of the joint symposium this year is “Soil Science for Enhancing Climate Resilience and Promoting Planetary Health.” The U.S.‐China agreements on climate change actions (U.S. Department of State, 2021, 2023) demonstrate the vision and need for international cooperation on addressing global challenges and for scientists in various disciplines like soil science, agronomy, crop science, forestry, horticulture, and environmental science to collaborate. As U.S.‐China relations have been stressed under political and legal constraints, there is increasing concern of negative impacts on soil science, soil scientists, and the sciences in general (Thompson et al., 2024). This year’s joint symposium will provide an opportunity for dialogue on our collective understanding of the nexus of soil, climate, water, food, and environment and in developing climate change adaption and mitigation measures, sustainable agricultural systems, and effective soil remediation and ecosystem protection technologies. The symposium will include a cross‐divisional symposium with invited speakers as well as joint oral and poster sessions open to voluntary contributions.

The joint symposium is organized by the SSSA‐SSSC Joint Working Group and is sponsored by the Soil Physics and Hydrology Division and co‐sponsored by the divisions of Soils and Environmental Quality, Soil Chemistry, Soil and Water Management and Conservation, and Pedology in SSSA. The joint oral and poster sessions are housed in the Soil Physics and Hydrology Division and are open to contributions from all disciplines. All are encouraged to be part of this event and to submit abstracts to the joint oral and poster sessions.