After 3 previous editions in the Americas (Xalapa, Mexico; Athens, USA) and Asia (Shanghai, China), the 12th edition of ISEE will take place in Europe (Rennes, France). This edition will promote the latest research on earthworm ecology, and will also be the place for researchers to meet and exchange ideas with stakeholders: policy makers and actors from the agricultural and business worlds.
It will be held in the city of Rennes in the Brittany Region (France)
from July 10th to July 15th, 2022.

It is organized by the Institut Agro - Agrocampus Ouest, the University of Rennes1, INRAE (National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment), and more broadly by a national consortium of 11 French experts from different reference high education and research structures including AgroSup Dijon, CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research) and IRD (French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development).
The symposium will include sessions on the following topics

Earthworm evolution and biodiversity
This session will host communications dealing with Phylogeny Biogeography & Phylogeography
Earthworm eco-immunology, eco-physiology and stress response
Earthworms and soil functioning
This session will assess different soil functions affected by earthworms and the linked ecosystem services: element cycling, organic matter and carbon evolution (stabilization, decomposition), soil structuration and soil structure maintenance, water regulation, water quality and supply, erosion control, food and fiber provisioning …
Earthworms and sustainable agriculture
This session will cover different topics: what are the impacts of agricultural practices on earthworm communities? can we identify or propose innovative agricultural practices or managements that improve, preserve or restore earthworms and their functions; do earthworms are key actors in agroecological transition, agricultural trajectory?
Earthworms and climate change
This session will cover the effect of earthworms on climate change and how climate changes affect earthworms
Earthworm community ecology and ecological network
This session will focus on different networks types, functions and ecosystem services: interactions between earthworms, interactions between earthworms and soil organisms, including microorganisms, interactions between earthworm and plant; consequence on soil biological population regulation, pest and disease control.
Earthworms and engineering processes
In this session, earthworms will be looked through their engineering faculties, such as vermicomposting, vermifiltration.
Earthworm ecotoxicology
This session will cover how contaminants and pollutant affect earthworms and their functions, and how earthworms act on pollutant attenuation and degradation.
Earthworms and citizen sciences
This session will present actions developped to awar citizens, farmers, policy about the interest of earthworms. In complement, feedbacks will be presented on how farmers, policy and citizens integrate the values of earthworms .
Earthworms and artwork
What is the place of the earthworm in art, song, film, painting, drawing, literature, comics…

These topics will transversally integrate topics such as socio-economic evaluations of services or dys-services related to earthworm activities. Moreover, novel technical approaches are welcome.

The congress will be held face-to-face in order to ensure dynamic, fruitful and enriching exchanges. If the sanitary conditions deteriorate, in relation to the CoVid19 epidemic, this format could evolve, but to this day we want to remain optimistic.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Rennes in July 2022!