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Prof. Winfried Blum

2021 Science-for-Policy Award Laureate

Prof. (em.) Dr. Blum is a highly-established scholar in the field of soil science, receiving many awards for his work including 5 Honorary degrees. He is a prolific academic with rich teaching and research experience in different countries. He served as Secretary General of International Union of Soil Sciences for 12 years, organizing many important conferences, and proposed the creation of the World Soil Day. He founded ICSU’s Food Security Committee He has made outstanding contributions to the development of the discipline, the advancement of related policies, and has raised international awareness of soil science research and the need for sustainable soil management.

Training of Master Students in forest soil science in Paraná/ Brazil, 1978

Detailed study of soils in Southern Thailand, during the 17. World Congress of Soil Science, 2002

Discussion about soil fertility in the Caucasus region of Georgia, 2014

Field discussion about soil and water conservation near Beijing/China, 2016

Intensive discussion during the 21. World Congress of Soil Science in Rio de Janeiro/ Brazil, 2018

At an international soils conference in New Delhi/India, 2005

Chairing an international workshop in Nanjing/China, 2012

Addressing the Brazilian Soil Science Society at their national conference in Natal, 2015

Chairing a session at the 1. Meeting of Young Chilean Soil Scientists in Valdivia/Chile ,2016

The 2021 Prize

All 2021 awardees received an original piece of art by scientific photographer Karl Gaff who specializes in microscopy art. Winfried Blum received ‘Rays of Dawn’.