Soil science is implicated in most of the biggest global challenges facing humanity in the next 30 years. These include greenhouse gas mitigation, food security, human health, water availability, bioenergy and restoration of degraded land. It is hard to imagine any other area of science with so broad and profound an impact. Even this discipline provides a fascinating educational framework to integrate several components (earth-science systems, time and spatial variability, complex dynamic processes) a decreasing student numbers is the common topic of discussion in the international soil science community.

We have to afford several facts at the same time. First, our students represent multiple occupations, backgrounds, value judgements, interests and experiences. Second, they bellow to a generation that has grown up in an immersive computing environment, used to online and digital technologies. This era of technological innovation has significant implications for higher education of scientists and engineers, and will have a major impact on teaching methodologies over the next years. And finally, we cannot forget that many of us believe that experimental/field courses are a component of vital importance to bring the real world to life in the heads of the students.

The aim of this session is to provide a forum for teachers and researchers to discuss innovative and effective means of educating the future generation of engineers and soil scientist for the continued development and improvement of education to meet these considerations. Reviews of trends in soil science education during the last years and at different countries are welcome.

Funding provided by CEIGRAM (Research Centre for the Management of Agricultural and Environmental Risks)is greatly appreciated.