The World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) is a conference held every four years (although interrupted by World War II) under the guidance of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS). The purpose of a congress is to: (i) ensure the advancement of soil science and its application, and (ii) to handle the business of the society. Of the 18 congresses, eight have been held in Europe, five in the Americas, three in Asia, one in Australia and one in Africa. The congresses are only open to society members. The number of members attending has steadily increased, with approximately 2000 members attending each congress since the 15th WCSS in Acapulco, Mexico[1].
The 19th WCSS was held in the week of 1 to 6 August 2010[2] in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The congress theme was ”Soil solutions for a changing world” [2]. The conference was organised by the IUSS President (Roger Swift) and Vice-President (Neal Menzies)[3]. The 19th WCSS was the second congress held in Australia (the 9th WCSS was held in Adelaide, Australia, in 1968), and was held in conjunction with the Australian Society of Soil Science Incorporated.
The next WCSS will be between 8-13 June 2014 on Jeju-do Island, South Korea, and will be hosted by the Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer[4]. The theme for the Congress is "Soils embrace life and universe", and will be held at the ICC JEJU Convention Centre[5].
Past and future locations for the WCSS[1][6]:
| WCSS | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 21st | 2018 | Brazil |
| 20th | 2014 | Jeju-do Island, South Korea |
| 19th | 2010 | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| 18th | 2006 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 17th | 2002 | Bangkok, Thailand |
| 16th | 1998 | Montpellier, France |
| 15th | 1994 | Acapulco, Mexico |
| 14th | 1990 | Kyoto, Japan |
| 13th | 1986 | Hamburg, Germany |
| 12th | 1982 | New Delhi, India |
| 11th | 1978 | Alberta, Canada |
| 10th | 1974 | Moscow, Russia |
| 9th | 1968 | Adelaide, Australia |
| 8th | 1964 | Bucharest, Romania |
| 7th | 1960 | Madison, U.S. |
| 6th | 1956 | Paris, France |
| 5th | 1954 | Leopoldville, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| 4th | 1950 | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 3rd | 1935 | Oxford, England |
| 2nd | 1930 | Leningrad, Russia |
| 1st | 1927 | Washington DC, U.S. |