Professor Karl Ritz, a Chair in Soil Biology in National Soil Resources Institute, Cranfield University, and also a chief editor of Soil Biology & Biochemistry, visited Heilongjiang in October 13-17.

Professor Karl Ritz is a soil ecologist, with rich experience in studying a wide range of interactions between soils, plants, microbes and fauna. Also, the professor is a energetic scholar in basic study and his interests focuses on developing a mechanistic understanding of the origins and functional consequences of the compositional and spatial organization of soil microbial communities. The work underpins the development of frameworks for understanding factors that regulate the activity of soil communities, systems to manage the biota appropriately, and incisive procedures for assessing and monitoring soil health.

In Harbin, Professor Karl presented two very attractive lectures titled “The Biological engine of the earth: visualising the structure and functioning of the soil communities” and “Papercraft: publishing your science in international peer-reviewed journals”. Many scholars and graduate students from our institute attended presentations and exchanged some interesting ideas after the lectures, respectively.

Moreover, Professor Karl visited the Hailun Station led by Professor Han Xiaozeng and Professor Zhang Bin. There they discussed concerned subjects such as soil fertility, soil nutrients, and soil microbes in farmland ecosystems.

Both scientists believe the visit would promote mutual understanding and cooperation.