Emerging Stressors to Soil Health

Naseer Hussain is an Assistant Professor at B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology (BSARCIS&T), Chennai, India. He took his MSc degree in Botany from Barkatullah University and earned his MPhil and PhD degrees in Environmental Technology from Pondicherry University. He then held prestigious postdoctoral positions at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, and McGill University, Canada, before joining BSARCIS&T, Chennai, as an Assistant Professor in 2022.Dr Hussain’s research work has addressed contemporary challenges of microplastic management, and greenhouse gas mitigation associated with agriculture and the valorization of organic waste.A recipient of coveted awards, including the Indian Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship (DBT, India) and the AgroPhytoSciences Postdoctoral Fellowship (Centre SEVE, Canada), Dr Hussain actively mentors postgraduate students and serves as a peer reviewer for leading environmental science journals. He has also been actively involved in faculty development programs, interdisciplinary research collaborations, and international conferences, contributing to the advancement of sustainable environmental practices. He continues to explore innovative solutions for organic waste recycling and soil restoration. Dr. Rakesh Kumar is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, USA, and working in environmental science, with a focus on water and soil pollution, environmental hydrology, and nanotechnology. His research interests encompass water and environmental pollution control, soil and water engineering, environmental hydrology, and the impact of microplastics on natural ecosystems. Dr. Kumar received the 2023 Excellence in Review Award from ES&T Letters, American Chemical Society. In recognition of his expertise in water-related issues, Dr. Kumar was honored as a Young Water Professional in the Diffuse Pollution & Eutrophication specialist group by the International Water Association. He also contributes as The Hydrogeologist Newsletter Assistant at the Geological Society of America, USA. Additionally, he received a Certificate of Excellence from the Total Environment Research Themes Journal, published by Elsevier, further attesting to the quality and significance of his research work. Recognizing his potential for international collaboration, Dr. Kumar was granted a Travel Grant to attend the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, USA. Further cementing in environmental research, Dr. Kumar was selected to join the Early Career Editorial Board of Science of the Total Environment. Lixia Wang is currently a Professor at the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Lixia has been engaged in research on the prevention and control of non-point source pollution for over 20 years. She has presided over more than ten national projects, including the National Key Research and Development Program of China, the National Water Major Special Project, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She has published more than 60 academic papers in prestigious journals, notably the Journal of Hazardous Materials, Bioresource Technology, and Chemosphere. Dr. Lixia has applied for more than ten patents and recently had six patents authorized. She has won three Provincial Science and Technology Awards and submitted one government consultation report. The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Development and Reform Commission entrusted Dr. Lixia with evaluating and developing “The Jilin Model for the Construction of a Beautiful China” .

• Section I: Soil Health in the Anthropocene 1. The Role of Soil in Ecosystem Functioning 2. The Soil-Climate Nexus – A Bidirectional Relationship 3. The Impact of Rising Temperatures on Soil Processes 4. Extreme Weather Events and Their Consequences for Soil Stability 5. Salinization and Desertification – The Expanding Drylands Section II: Emerging Contaminants in Soil Ecosystems 6. Microplastics and Synthetic Polymers in Soil: Sources, Fate, and Ecotoxicology 7. Pharmaceuticals, Antibiotics, and the Rise of Antimicrobial Resistance in Soil 8. Engineered Nanomaterials in Soil – Risks, Benefits, and Unknowns 9. Heavy Metal Contamination Under a Changing Climate: Bioavailability and Toxicity 10. Pesticide Residues and Agrochemical Pollution: Persistence and Environmental Impact Section III: Soil Biodiversity, Microbiome and Ecosystem Resilience 11. The Decline of Soil Biodiversity and Its Consequences for Ecosystem Services 12. The Role of Soil Fungi and Microbial Networks in Climate Adaptation 13. Emerging Soil-Borne Pathogens, Pests, and Disease Dynamics in a Warming World 14. Acidification, Soil pH Shifts, and Their Impact on Microbial Communities 15. Urbanization and Soil Sealing: The Hidden Crisis of Peri-Urban Soil Health Section IV: Carbon Dynamics and Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Soil 16. Greenhouse Gas Fluxes and the Role of Soils in Climate Regulation 17. Soil-Based Carbon Sequestration – A Key to Climate Resilience 18. The Role of Peatlands and Wetlands in Global Carbon Storage 19. Permafrost Thaw and the Release of Ancient Soil Carbon 20. Agricultural Intensification, Soil Health, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Section V: Sustainable Soil Management and Climate Adaptation Strategies 21. Regenerative Agriculture and Climate-Resilient Farming Systems 22. Technological Advances in Soil Monitoring, Precision Agriculture, and AI Integration 23. The Economics of Soil Health: Valuing an Invisible Ecosystem Service 24. Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Practices in Soil Conservation 25. Agroforestry and Multispecies Farming Systems for Soil Sustainability Section VI: Policy, Governance, and Future Challenges in Soil Conservation 26. Global Soil Governance and Policy Frameworks – Bridging Science and Implementation 27. The Future of Soil Security – Challenges, Innovations, and Research Priorities