Researchers from twinned Lancaster University, UK and Dnipro University of Technology, Ukraine met at the Lancaster University Leipzig campus for a series of discussions on the restoration of damaged soil in July 2023. Workshops focused on the drivers of soil degradation in Ukraine, the ecological restoration of war-damaged soils, and how to build resilient agricultural soils.

Professor Nick Ostle Soil Ecologist from Lancaster University said: “Healthy soil is critical to global food security and is a global priority for ecosystem recovery. Over the two-day conference, we explored how to address soil restoration challenges in Ukraine, shared innovative research findings and identified areas for future collaboration.”

Attendees included multidisciplinary students and researchers from both institutions who presented their work and networked. Going forward the collaboration between the two universities will develop joint research priorities and work towards developing a framework for soil restoration.

Professor Simon Guy, Pro-Vice Chancellor International at Lancaster University, said: “We are proud to be twinned with Dnipro University of Technology and pleased to be able to host our colleagues from Ukraine at our Leipzig campus for the conference and conversations around this important topic.

“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Dnipro University of Technology on research projects and by identifying new opportunities for our partnership”.

Professor Oleksandr Kovrov, Head of the International Office at Dnipro University of Technology, said: “The conference was a powerful startto the strategic cooperation between Dnipro University of Technology and Lancaster University. It promoted opportunities for the unification of scientists from partner Universities towards finding common ideas and innovative projects for the restoration of the Ukrainian lands affected by war.

“I feel that the Conference opened a wide range of further activities and networking development between Ukrainian and British scientists. We discussed many professional topics that ensure the successful continuation of current initiatives in the sphere of innovative bioremediation technologies.”

Lancaster University and Dnipro University of Technology were twinned in June 2022 as part of the Twinning Scheme, coordinated by Cormack Consultancy Group and Universities UK International and designed to facilitate collaboration and partnership between UK and Ukrainian universities, specifically addressing their research and innovation needs.

The conference and collaboration were made possible by funding from Universities UK International.