SNEC 2026 Conference
Recent SWCS Southern New England Chapter (SNEC) conferences have focused on wetland restoration, water quality and solar energy. At SNEC’s 2026 Conference, the spotlight will be on soil and sediment – surficial or subaqueous, intact or disturbed, contaminated or pristine.
S O I L M A T T E R S
University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus
Information Technology Engineering Building
Thursday July 30, 2026 | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Program Information
(rev 10 June 2026)
In addition to a still-growing list of presentations, the program includes two hands-on workshops:
Soil Classification Workshops – A.M. and P.M. sessions
Soil Texture and Color in the Field (space is limited)
Hosted by Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Assistant Extension Professor for UConn Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. This workshop will be held at the new George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center and includes a lab tour. PSHC brings together several existing and physically separated specialized service centers already established at UConn (Home and Garden Education Center, Plant Diagnostic Center, Soil Nutrient Analysis Lab and the Turf Diagnostics Lab).
Soil Microscopy Workshop – A.M. session
Soil Health 3-Ways – An Overview (space is limited)
Hosted by Monique Bosch, Soil Health Program Manager for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (CT NOFA). Attendees are invited to bring your own samples to make slides for viewing!
Workshops are INCLUDED in the cost of registration.
Round-trip shuttle to PSHC is also included.
To sign up, simply choose Yes when asked in the course of registering for your selected ticket category. Space permitting, you may also request to sign up via e-mail keara@swcssnec.org or at check-in on July 30th.
Scroll down for details about the workshops and information about confirmed speakers and presentations.
Check back soon for updates!
TICKET-FREE Event
Please IGNORE on-screen guidance from Eventbrite and at the top of the Order Confirmation message to “View and save your tickets before the event” and the button that says “Go to My Tickets” – your name will be on a sign-in sheet at the door
https://snec2026.eventbrite.com
Speaker Bios and Program Elements
Hands-On Workshops
Monique Bosch
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut
Bio:
Monique works as Soil Health Lead for CT NOFA, and runs a worm composting business with her son Justin; Wiggle Room. She also teaches Soil Health for Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Berkshire Botanical Garden. In the last 20 years she has worked with volunteers and students to build over 40 edible school and community gardens, and a two-acre urban farm in Bridgeport. She studied ‘The Soil Food Web’ under Dr. Elaine Ingham, and teaches microscopy, soil health and composting to farmers and organizations. Through microscopy and test trials, Monique explores the relationship between living soil and healthy, nutritious food.
Workshop:
Soil Health 3-Ways – An Overview
Dr. Avishesh Neupane
Assistant Extension Professor, UCONN, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture
Bio:
Avishesh Neupane, Ph.D. is an Assistant Extension Professor of Soil Science at UConn and Director of the Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory. His Extension work focuses on practical soil health and translating lab results into clear, science-based recommendations for Connecticut and New England growers and gardeners, with an emphasis on nutrient stewardship to protect local waterways. His research on how carbon and nutrients move through working soils informs these recommendations and keeps them grounded in current science. His outreach programs cover soil fertility, compost, fertilizer management, and crop, pasture, and lawn amendments. Dr. Neupane holds an M.E.Sc. from Yale and a Ph.D. from UCLA.
Workshop:
Soil Texture and Color in the Field
Lab Tour:
Dr. Neupane will lead attendees on a tour of the newly relocated George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center
Presentations
Dr. Amelia Magistrali
Associate Extension Educator: Soil Health, UConn Extension
Bio:
Dr. Amelia Magistrali is the Associate Extension Educator in Soil Health with UConn Extension, focusing on regenerative and agroecological farming systems that enhance soil health and ecosystem services. Since joining UConn in 2024, she has developed statewide programs supporting climate-resilient soil management for diverse growers. Dr. Magistrali holds a PhD from Newcastle University and brings over a decade of experience working with farmer networks to advance sustainable agriculture.
Presentation:
Tabletop Rainfall Simulator and Soil Health
Dr. Jin Ho Lee
Postdoctoral Researcher, Massachusetts Geological Survey, UMass Amherst
Bio:
Jin Ho Lee earned his PhD from Michigan State University, and his MS and BS from Gyeongsang National Unveristy, South Korea. His work has focused on understanding the mechanisms of soil carbon processing and sequestration using spatial approaches (X-ray µCT 3D imaging, zymography, root scanning) and isotopic tracing techniques in crop and grassland ecosystems. He currently leads a research project exploring statewide soil carbon pools in Massachusetts forests.
Presentation:
Factors affecting soil carbon accumulation in Massachusetts forests
Alex Patterson, CERP
Senior Ecologist, EA Engineering, Science, Technology, Inc., PBC
Bio:
Alex is an ecologist with over 15 years of multi-disciplinary experience in the planning, design, permitting, and oversight of ecological restoration and habitat management projects in estuarine, freshwater, and terrestrial systems. He has served as project manager and senior ecologist for scores of projects, primarily in the Northeastern United States, including salt marsh habitat restoration, tidal restoration and other coastal resilience improvements, cranberry bog and other freshwater wetland restorations, dam removals, stream bank restorations, coastal and freshwater dredging, and habitat management projects, among others.
Presentation:
Dr. Eureka Joshi
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Southwestern University
Bio:
Dr. Eureka Joshi is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Southwestern University. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho. For her doctoral research, she assembled a network of collaborators in northern Idaho, including five regional wastewater reuse facilities, Native American tribes, state and federal agencies, and adjacent landowners to conduct research on forest responses to municipal reclaimed water. She addressed questions about the impacts of reclaimed water on forest growth and vegetation diversity, drainage and soil nutrient leaching potential, and soil biological responses. As a postdoctoral fellow at Trinity College, Hartford, she collaborated with a regional wastewater treatment facility and a local farm in New Hampshire to study the impacts of biosolids land application on soil nitrogen and phosphorus cycling. Currently, she continues to explore how biosolids and reclaimed water land application affect soil health in Texas agroecosystems.
Presentation:
Ginny Patsun
Soil Conservation Specialist, North Central Conservation District
Bio:
Ginny is a soil conservation specialist with the North Central Conservation District, and is a CT licensed arborist. Ginny found her passion in agroforestry while serving in the United States Peace Corps in Zambia, and is now practicing and promoting temperate agroforestry practices in Connecticut.
Presentation:
Dr. Mia Maltz
Assistant Professor, UConn, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Department
Bio:
Mia Maltz is an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut in the Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Department. Mia is a mycologist and soil microbial ecologist working at the interface of community ecology, biogeography, and mycology. Her work broadly focuses on community responses to soil disturbance, which feedback to influence plant and fungal community structure and ecosystem functioning.
Presentation:
QUESTIONS regarding the program? Please contact Keara McAuliffe at keara@swcssnec.org.
Registration
https://snec2026.eventbrite.com
Soil Matters! 2026 Registration Rates
The SNEC Board of Directors is voted to retain the same conference registration rates as we’ve used since we resumed in-person events. As always, discounted rates are offered to SNEC Members and to full-time Students. New for 2026: we reduced the number for Group registration to a minimum of 3 attendees who register together. (See notes under Required Questions)
Registration online only via credit/debit card, PayPal or Google Pay.
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General Admission: $125 | after July 15: $140
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SWCS SNEC Member: $75
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Student General Admission: $50
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SWCS Student Chapter Member: $25
Space permitting, workshops are included.
–> Blue Light Special $190 <–
Join the Soil & Water Conservation Society now at the $115 Conservationist level and benefit immediately by registering at the $75 SNEC Member rate! Simply select the Blue Light Special option when you register – we’ll handle the SWCS membership paperwork. For more information about benefits of membership (including a subscription to the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation). This offer is for first-time SWCS members only.
–> GROUP DISCOUNTS <–
25% off General & Student General Admission
when Groups of 3 or More Register Together!
Group General Admission: $93.75 | after July 15: $105
Group Student: $37.50
Required Questions on the Order Form
Group registration has to happen all in one fell swoop, and information must be provided for each attendee individually. Before initiating a Group registration, each person should specify which workshop(s) if any s/he wishes to attend. Responses from everyone in the Group should be compiled in advance to respond to these Required Questions on the Soil Matters ticket order form:
- Do you want to sign up for the Soil Microscopy workshop (A.M. only)?
- Do you want to sign up for a Soil Classification workshop?
- Do you want a Certificate of Attendance?
- May we post your NAME + AFFILIATION on the Soil Matters web page?
- May we share your CONTACT INFO with other Attendees?
After payment, this Optional question will appear to help guide our efforts going forward:
- How did you hear about Soil Matters? (ex: paper flyer, co-worker, e-mail, etc.)
Registration Notes:
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Rain or Shine | No Refunds | Transfer is Allowed
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Registration includes presentations, exhibits, morning coffee and buffet lunch.
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Space permitting, registration also includes workshops and tour. Sign up by choosing Yes when asked during registration for your selected ticket category.
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Parking in South Parking Garage (online vehicle registration in advance required)
-> EXHIBIT TABLES AVAILABLE <-
SWCS Southern New England Chapter’s mission is promote, educate and advance the science of soil, water and related resources conservation. We seek vendors of products and services that can help deliver solutions during all phases of the project
- Exhibitor Registration: $500
- Non-profit Exhibitor Registration: $250
Includes one 6-foot table with drape and registration for one (1) person
- Additional Exhibit Staff: $75
Limit: 2 additional staff per table
For more information or to register as an Exhibitor, contact Keara McAuliffe at keara@swcssnec.org or call Christine Odiaga at 508-945-3282
To get a sense of the PROSPECTIVE AUDIENCE, see lists of attendees at past in-person SNEC winter conferences:
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!
Through the educational events we host, the Southern New England Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society has developed partnerships with like-minded organizations and government agencies working in resource protection and conservation. These public sector partnerships have been instrumental in delivery of high caliber workshops and conferences to the community we serve, and we’re grateful for their contributions of time and expertise.
But the SNEC needs financial support from the private sector to defray the cost of other efforts to support the conservation community, such as:
- expanding outreach to students,
- increasing member engagement,
- developing educational and training programs to support future generations of conservationists.
The Southern New England Chapter invites you to join us in our mission to promote, educate, and advance all phases of the science of conservation of soil, water and related resources.
SNEC sponsors may request specific trainings and submit job postings or event notices for our social media platforms (pending approval of content). Sponsors get promotional exposure at events, in newsletters and via social media.
Interested? Please reach out to Keara McAuliffe at keara@swcssnec.org or Christine Odiaga at (508) 945-3283 for more information.
Conservation NewsBriefs
- US wetlands 'restored' using treated sewage tainted with forever chemicals
- The impact of climate change on stormwater management
- Trump administration touts farm conservation, says no pesticide crackdown
- Scientists make revolutionary breakthrough that could solve major problem with how we grow food: 'Could have big, positive agricultural implications'
- Nonprofit making Biochar with first mobile processing facility in Florida
