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.
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).
The program will be updated progressively.
| Day | Topics | Modelling tool |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Theoretical background: Root water uptake - water flow in the soil and plant systems | |
| 2 | Simulating root-scale and rhizosphere hydraulics | GRANAR, MECHA |
| 3 | Simulating 3D root system hydraulic architecture and its evolution | CPlantBox |
| 4 | Simulating water flow in the 3D soil-rhizosphere-root-shoot continuum | CPlantBox, Hydrus-1D |
| 5 | Simplified soil-plant water flow models and discussion of practical applications | Hydrus-1D |
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
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
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
For any additional questions, contact m.giraud [at] fz-juelich [dot] de
