The future of the cities depends on us. SUITMA-9, the largest world soil congress first time in Russia

22 May, RUDN hosted SUITMA-9 (Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military Areas) congress, an event held once every 2 years in the largest cities of the world, and in 2017, held for the first time in Russia on the subject «Impact of urbanization on the soils ecological functions and ecosystem services, risks and prospects».

Vladimir Filippov, RUDN Rector and Chair of the Organizing Committee said that RUDN is interested in such events because they bring together researchers from different countries and are important for urban development.

SUITMA Association President Mr.Kim said that there are a lot of ecological problems and compared our world with an ocean saying that depending on our actions the ocean can be red or blue. He called on the participants of the conference to do their best to make the ocean blue.

SUITMA has been working more than 20 years. The first congress was held in Essen (Germany), 37 countries participated.

Prominent researchers and academics took part in the work of 14 sections. Among them are those entering 1% of the most cited researchers of the world - Prof. Rattan Lal (Ohio University, President of IUSS); Prof. Riccardo Valentini (Tuscia University, 2007 Nobel Prize winner); Prof. Yakov Kuzyakov (University of Gottingen.

SUITMA-9 is held with the support of Erasmus+ JeanMonnet and the Russian Geographic Society. Co-organizer - (International Union of Soil Science).