UNDER THE SURFACE: A Symposium on the Importance of Soil 🪱

Soil is so much more than the dirt beneath our shoes.

This thin organic layer of the Earth produces about 95% of the world’s food, filters and purifies water, hosts incredible biodiversity, and stores vast amounts of carbon. Soil is one of the fundamental foundations of life on land—and at the same time one of the most undervalued and vulnerable resources on the planet. It is estimated that about one-third of all soil worldwide has become moderately to severely degraded due to overuse, erosion, pollution, and unsustainable land use.

What is healthy soil really worth? What kinds of life are hidden in the soil beneath our feet? And how can we reverse the current trend and treat this remarkable yet limited resource with greater care?

At this symposium, we will delve into the hidden world of soil in search of answers to these important questions. In addition, we will hear about—and get a ‘sneak peek’ of—the exhibition ‘Membrane,’ which officially opens at the Nordic House on June 6, and which indeed revolves around soil. Guests will also be able to take home a paper bag of compost from the University of Iceland’s brand-new composting machine. Light refreshments and drinks will be served.

PROGRAMME

Keynotes by:

Thomas Crowther, an ecologist and professor at ETH Zurich. He leads the Crowther Lab, founded the Restor platform for ecosystem restoration, and serves on the advisory board for the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Kristín Sigurðardóttir, an emergency physician with a holistic view of health who has always been involved in health promotion, prevention, and education. She teaches at the Faculty of Medicine, Reykjavík University, and sits on the Public Health Council of the Icelandic Medical Association. 

Panel Discussion:

• Kristín Sigurðardóttir, emergency physician
• Ólafur Arnalds, professor emeritus in soil science at the Agricultural University of Iceland
• Salvör Jónsdóttir, planner

The first 20 guests will receive Thomas Crowther’s latest book, Nature’s Echo: Harnessing Ancient Feedback Loops to Heal a Changing Planet, as a gift! The book is released on the same day as the symposium.

The event is organized by the Nordic House and the Sustainability Institute at the University of Iceland. It will be held in Icelandic and English.