The 2nd International Summer School on Advanced Soil Physics: Soil-Plant-Water Flow will be held at UCLouvain, Belgium, from 8 to 12 September 2025. 

This intensive one-week program aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of water flow in the soil-rhizosphere-plant system, influenced by plant physiology and rhizosphere hydraulics. Attendees will gain both theoretical knowledge of soil and plant water flow and practical skills to model these processes using advanced numerical tools.

This summer school is tailored for master’s and PhD students, and early-career scientists working in soil physics, plant physiology, water management, environmental science, and related fields.

Applicants should have an early-stage familiarity with soil physics in their research and an interest in deepening their knowledge and skills. While prior programming experience is beneficial, group projects will provide opportunities to learn basic programming skills. Participants will receive support from mentors and teaching assistants throughout the program.

Each participant will be provided with a computer. Additional practical information will be shared with the selected participants.

Fees

500 euros.

The fees include coffee/tea, and lunches. It does not include accommodation.

Applicants from middle- and low-income countries may apply for a grant (see application form).

Program

Important Dates

1st February: Start of the application

15th May: Application deadline

30th May: Notification of decision

15th June: Complementary practical information shared with the selected participants

Course organizers and current list of lecturers

Prof. Dr. Jan Vanderborght, from KULeuven and Forschungszentrum Jülich
Prof. Dr. Mathieu Javaux, from UCLouvain
Prof. Dr. Andrea Schnepf, from Forschungszentrum Jülich
Prof. Dr. Guillaume Lobet, from UCLouvain
Prof. Dr. Xavier Draye, from UCLouvain
Prof. Dr. Valentin Couvreur, from UCLouvain
Dr. Adrien Heymans, from Umea University
Mona Giraud, from Forschungszentrum Jülich

Invited speakers:

Dr. Tom De Swaef, from Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO)
Prof. Dr. Simone Fatichi, from National University of Singapore

Accommodation options

• The Martin’s Hotel (8 minutes walk from the train station and 15 minutes from the meeting place): https://www.martinshotels.com/fr/page/martins-louvain-la-neuve/martins-louvain-la-neuve-innovation-art-de-vivre-hotel.11057.html#backlink:actu-269 
• If Martin’s Hotel is fully booked, another option is Hotel IBIS (20 minutes walk from the train station and 30 minutes from the meeting place): https://all.accor.com/hotel/2200/index.en.shtml
• Cheaper option: youth hostel Mozaik (5 minutes walk from the train station and 15 minutes from the meeting place): https://www.gite-mozaik.be/en/ 

More information

For any additional questions, contact m.giraud [at] fz-juelich [dot] de 

This summer school is supported by ENVITAM and ISMC.