LOESS High-level Symposium: Shaping Soil Health Education for 2030 and Beyond.
7 May 2026, 9:30–18:00
In-person attendance: Hub Social (C/ Girona 34, Barcelona)
Hybrid attendance: Click here
Join us on 7 May 2026 at Barcelona’s Social Hub—or online—for the LOESS Symposium, a key moment in boosting soil health education and capacity building across Europe. Throughout the day, we will reflect on how to better integrate soil literacy into schools, universities, vocational training, and society at large.
Discover a set of twelve pedagogical resources co‑created within the LOESS project. Alongside these resources, we will present a series of policy recommendations developed collaboratively. The programme will also open a window to other projects working towards similar goals, creating space for dialogue, exchange of ideas, and new connections.
Enjoy inspiring talks, lively scientific and educational discussions, and creative soil-themed art and music that celebrate our deep bond with the ground beneath our feet.
Be part of this vibrant collective moment of learning, creativity, and collaboration as we celebrate the achievements of the LOESS project and envision the future of soil health education.
Registration for in-person attendance will remain open until 24 April.
LOESS Symposium (Barcelona, 7 May 2026)
programme
9:00-9:30 | Registration
9:30-9:45 | Welcome & Opening remarks
- Event hosts:
- Helen Garrison, Vetenskap & Allmänhet (In person)
- Daniel Jianu, APOPSI, and Nadia Fellini, Controvento (Streaming)
- Speakers:
- Josep M. Vilalta, Catalan Association of Public Universities
- Salvador Samitier, Government of Catalonia
- Maria José Amaral, European Commission
- Norbert Steinhaus, WILA Bonn
9:45–11:00 | Cross‑Sector Perspectives on Soil Education and Capacity Building
Scene-setting talks & Interactive panel featuring the perspectives of policy makers, teachers (primary or secondary), lecturers, VET providers, students, and practitioners.
- Moderator:
- Joanna Morawska, Adam Mickiewicz University
- Note-taker:
- Ayfer Yilmaz, ANS Education & Consultancy
- Speakers:
- David Butler-Manning, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Germany)
- Giulia Bongiorno, Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands)
- Johan Sparf, Lund University (Sweden)
- Víctor López, Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain)
- Mustapha Kan, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University (Turkey)
11:00-11:15 | Lightning pitches: LOESS Impact & Soil Mission Projects
- Speakers:
- Valentina Tassone, Wageningen University & Research
- Christina Makarona, European Schoolnet
- Agueda Gras, European Schoolnet
- Lucas Weinberg, University of Innsbruck
- Suzanne Kapelari, University of Innsbruck
- Saurabh Singh, Technological University Dublin
- Emma McKenna, Queen’s University Belfast
- Kristin Dolezil, University of Vechta
- Joanna Morawska, Adam Mickiewicz University
- Karolina Lewinska, Adam Mickiewicz University
- Daniel Jianu, APOPSI
- Barbara Ewa Maćkiewicz, Adam Mickiewicz University
- Caroline Schmidt, University of Vechta
- Andrea Vargiu, University of Sassari
11:15-11:20 | Presentation of the Art Exhibition “El sòl que acull”
Exhibition inviting visitors to explore the invisible world beneath our feet: soil, an essential element of nature that, although often forgotten, sustains life on our planet.
- Speakers:
- Roser Pesquer, artist
11:20–11:45 | Coffee Break
11:45-13:00 | Interactive Marketplace: exploring results and collaboration
- Discover LOESS tools, resources and outcomes
- Meet representatives from sister Soil Mission projects
- Exchange ideas and build new connections
- Speakers:
- LOESS partners
- Coordinators and partners of the EU Mission on Soil projects
13:00–14:30 | Lunch
14:30–15:45 | Breakout sessions Envisioning the Future of Soil Health Learning
- Theme 1: Driving Policy Impact and Long‑Term – Sustainability Exploring how soil education initiatives can influence policy, embed systemic change, and remain sustainable.
Moderator: Andrea Vargiu, University of SassariNote-taker: Marta Kuhnová, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius
- Theme 2: Empowering Future Soil Professionals: University and VET PathwaysStrengthening higher education and vocational training to equip the next generation of soil professionals with interdisciplinary and practice-based skills.
Moderator: Giovanna Grossi, University of Brescia
Note-takers: Réka Matolay & Márta Frigyik, Corvinus Science Shop - Theme 3: Inspiring Soil Awareness in Primary and Secondary EducationInnovative approaches to integrating soil literacy into schools, nurturing curiosity, stewardship and environmental awareness from an early age
Moderator: Irena Šujdović, Center for the Promotion of Science
Note-taker: Gražina Lukšytė, Institute for Social Innovations
15:45-16:15 | Coffee break
16:15-16:30 | ENSEMBLE Soil
An interdisciplinary music project on soil, ecology, and underground networks.
- Speakers:
- Suzanne Kapelari, University of Innsbruck
16:30 – 17:30 | High-level round table Looking ahead: The Soil Mission towards 2030
- Moderator:
- Norbert Steinhaus, WILA Bonn
- Note-taker:
- Michaela Shields, WILA Bonn
- Speakers:
- Carole Esclapez, European Comission
- Judit Horgas, European School Heads Association (CURIOSOIL)
- Giulia Bongiorno, Wageningen University & Research (SOILTRIBES)
- Tanja Mimmo, Free University of Bolzano (ECHO)
- Francesco Molinari, ANCI Toscana (HUMUS)
- Javier Montellano, REVOLVE (NB SOIL)