From 12 to 14 November 2025, an international workshop was held in Hungary, focusing on enhancing soil literacy and raising awareness of soils’ crucial role in the natural environment.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Hungarian Soil Science Society, the National Chamber of Agriculture, the University of Miskolc (Faculty of Soil Science and Engineering), and the Püspökladány Experimental Station and Arboretum, part of the Institute of Forestry Research at the University of Sopron.
The first day took place at the University of Miskolc, where participants presented best practice examples and activities aimed at promoting soil interest among different target groups. Among the speakers was Asst. Katja Črnec from the Faculty of Environmental Protection, who presented two contributions from the CURIOSOIL project:
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“The Value of Multisensory Experiences in Soil Literacy”, highlighting the importance of incorporating multisensory approaches into soil education.
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“Soil Literacy in the Field: Experiences from Summer Schools on Soil Science”, sharing experiences from summer schools and emphasizing the practical value of fieldwork.
At the end of the first day, participants visited the university’s collection of soil profile monoliths—a valuable archive of samples illustrating soil diversity, some of which can no longer be collected due to degradation.
The second day focused on fieldwork at the Püspökladány Arboretum, where participants examined a Gleysol soil profile, recently designated Soil of the Year 2025 by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS).
The workshop concluded with a clear message: the future of healthy soils depends directly on our willingness to translate knowledge into practice and to strengthen collaboration among institutions, local communities, and individuals.
